HISTORY 


OF   THE 


AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS, 

"'..AND  LETTERS-OF-MARQUE, 

fitting  our  ilar  totth  fnglatft  in  the  sera  1812,  '13  nnft  'U. 

TXTERSPERSKD    WITH 

SEVERAL  NAVAL  BATTLES  BETWEEN  AMERICAN  AND 
BRITISH  SHIPS-OF-WAR. 


GEORGE    C  O  G  G  E  8  H  A  i  L , 

u 

AUTHOR  OF  "VOYAGES  TO  VARIOUS  PARTS  OF  THE  WORLD,"  ANM>  "  HWTORIOAT,  SKETCH  or 

COMMERCE   AND    NAVIOATFON."1 


IN  ONE  VOLUME,  ILLUSTRATED. 

THIRD   BD1TION,    REVISED,    CORRECTED   AND   ENLARGED. 


NEW  YORK : 

PUBLISHED     BY    AND    FOR     THE    AUTHOR 
GEO.  P.  PUTNAM,  AGENT,  115  NASSAU  ST. 


Kntered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 

OEORGE  COGGESHAI.L, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  :se  J)i?lwi  Court  ot  the  United  States,  for  the  Southern  District  of 
/:'ew  Vork. 


KDWARD    O.    JENKINS, 

PRINTER  AND  STEREOTYPED 

26  Frankfort  St..  N.  Y. 


fa  tjjt 


WHO    SERVED    THEIR    COUNTRY    IN    PRIVATEERS    AND 
LETTERS-OF-MARQUE 

IN  THE   WAR   WITH   ENGLAND, 

I  N     THE     YEARS     1813,    '13,    A  N  1  )     '14. 
THIS  WORK 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  AND  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED    BY 

THE  AUTHOR, 


PREFACE. 

ALTHOUGH  far  advanced  on  the  voyage  of  life,  and 
sensible  of  the  magnitude  of  the  work  he  has  un 
dertaken,  yet  the  author  of  this  volume  felt  that  his 
duty  was  unperformed  while  the  History  of  the  Amer 
ican  Privateers  and  Letters-of-Marque  remained  un 
written. 

High  places  in  the  temple  of  fame  have  been  justly 
awarded  to  very  many,  who,  in  the  national  employment, 
have  achieved  exploits  not  more  brilliant,  displayed 
courage  not  more  daring,  seamanship  not  more  mas 
terly,  coolness  in  danger  not  more  remarkable  than 
abound  in  the  records  of  the  private  armed  service. 

But  the  brave  and  patriotic  men  who  adorned  that 
service,  instead  of  being  awarded  a  proud  niche  in  that 
temple,  have  encountered  neglect,  and  even  obloquy. 
No  testimonials  of  national  gratitude  have  rewarded 
their  blood-bought  victories,  and  their  invaluable  ser 
vices  in  crippling  the  resources  of  the  common  enemy. 
But  their  motives  have  been  assailed,  and  cupidity  and 
a  desire  for  booty  imputed  to  them  as  the  impulses 
which  led  to  their  bold  achievements. 

It  hr,s  been  tlio  object  of  the  author  to  vindicate 
their  characters,  as  well  as  to  record  their  triumphs.  If 


VI  PREFACE. 

he  fails  to  prove  that  their  purposes  were  elevated  and 
patriotic,  and  that  they  were'  most  efficient  in  weaken 
ing  the  arm  of  our  powerful  and  inveterate  adversary, 
he  has  failed  to  do  justice  to  his  theme,  and  to  the  truth 
of  history.  He  could  have  wished  that  the  subject  had 
fallen  into  abler  hands  ;  but  he  can,  at  least,  bring  to  it 
fidelity  of  statement,  and  knowledge  derived  from  his 
personal  intimacy  and  frequent  communication,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  with  many  of  the  commanders 
of  Privateers  and  Letters-of-Marque,  during  the  war, 
and  since. 

He  has  been  aided  much  in  his  collection  of  facts  by 
information  received  from  the  Captains  and  Officers  of 
the  United  States  Navy,  especially  from  Commodores 
Hull  and  Stewart,  as  well  as  from  other  intelligent  gen 
tlemen  who  bore  an  active  part  in  the  great  conflict  be 
tween  the  two  nations.  He  has  also  found  in  many  of 
the  newspapers  and  other  periodicals  of  1812,  1813,  and 
1814,  valuable  official  and  statistical  documents,  espe 
cially  in  the  excellent  and  accurate  Register  of  Mr. 
Niles,  published  at  Baltimore.  Many  of  the  facts  re 
corded  in  these  pages  will  also  be  found  verified  by 
Cooper's  History  of  the  United  States  Navy. 

The  author,  himself,  commanded,  during  the  war,  two 
Letters-of-Marque,  the  Schooners  ''  David  Porter"  and 
"  Leo/'  and  at  this  late  day,  recollects  almost  all  the  im 
portant  incidents  of  the  war  as  distinctly  as  though  they 
had  occurred'within  the  last  two  years. 

It  has  been  the  author's  aim  to  give  the  name  of 
every  Privateer  and  Letter-of-Marque  which  sailed  from 


PREFACE.  Vll 

our  ports  during  the  war,  and  he  believes  that  he  has 
done  so,  though  a  few  may  have  been  employed  of 
which  he  finds  no  record. 

He  has  also  endeavored  to  give  the  names  of  the  com 
manders  of  each  vessel,  but  probably  has  not  succeeded 
in  every  instance,  as  the  Captains  were  sometimes 
changed  during  cruises,  or  were  killed  in  action,  and 
succeeded  by  others,  and  in  many  instances  promoted  to 
other  vessels. 

Many  prizes  were  destroyed  at  sea,  and  many  a  gal 
lant  "  brush"  with  an  enemy  of  superior  force  occurred, 
of  which  no  official  record  was  made  ;  but  which, 
had  it  been  in  the  national  service,  would  have 
entitled  those  who  conducted  it  to  promotion  and  fame. 

Tho  author  has  also  endeavored,  in  his  introduction, 
to  show  the  justice  of  the  war  on  our  part,  and  to 
prove  that  it  was  waged  purely  in  obedience  to 
the  great  law  of  nations,  as  well  as  nature — self-de 
fence. 

England  had  virtually  warred  on  our  commerce  for 
six  or  eight  years,  without  our  being  able  to  obtain  re 
dress.  Negotiation  and  remonstrance  were  finally  ex 
hausted,  and  we  were  compelled  to  resort  to  war  as  the 
last  alternative  of  civilized  nations. 

The  reader  will  pardon  the  assurance  that  whatever 
other  deficiencies  may  be  found  in  this  volume,  there 
has  been  no  lack  of  a  sincere  intention  to  adhere  to  the 
strictest  truth  in  its  statements,  and  rather  to  incur  the 
charge  of  scanty  than  exaggerated'  description  of  the  ex 
ploits  of  our  private  armed  service . 


CONTENTS. 


PACK 

DEDICATION iii 

PREFACE v 

MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT xv 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  FOREIGN  RELATIONS xxiv 

PROCLAMATION  OF  WAR  BY  THE  PRESIDENT xxxix, 

MR.  ADAMS  OPINION  OF  THE  WAR xl 

RESTORATION  OF  SEAMEN  TAKEN  FROM  THE  CHESAPEAKE xlii 

INTRODUCTION  . .  xliii 


CHAPTER     I. 


PREPARATION  FOR  WAR —DISPATCH  PILOT  BOAT  TO  GOTTENBURG — COMMENCE  WITH 
SMALL  PRIVATEERS  -  SEVERAL  PRIVATEERS  SAIL  FROM  NEW  YORK — PRIVATEERS 
FITTING  OUT  FROM  THE  EASTERN  STATES— TABLE  OF  PRIVATEERS  BELONGING  TO 
NEW  YORK — AN  EMBARGO  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT — TABLE  OF  PRI 
VATEERS  BELONGING  TO  BALTIMORE — PRIVATEERS  FROM  RHODE  ISLAND  AND  SOUTH 
CAROLINA— CONSTITUTION,  CAPTAIN  HULL,  OFF  NEW  YORK— CONSTITUTION  CHASED 
BY  A  BRITISH  FLEET—  CHASE  CONTINUED  FOR  THREE  DAYS — THREE  SHIPS  SAIL  FROM 
LISBON,  VIZ.,  AMERICA,  ELIZA  GRACIE,  AND  ORONOKO — TWO  OF  THEM  CAPTURED — 
CAPTAIN  HULL  ARRIVES  AT  BOSTON — HIS  KIND  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE-^REFITS 
FOR  ANOTHER  CRUISE— SAILS  FROM  BOSTON  ON  THE  2ND  OF  AUGUST — CRUIJ3E  OFF 
THE  COAST  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA — JOURNAL  OF  HIS  CRUISE — ANXIETY  OF  THE  PEOPLE 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE  FATE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION — CAPTAIN  HULL  MEETS 
WITH  THE  GUERRIERE  ON  THE  19TH  OF  AUGUST — DEFEAT  OF  THE  GUERRIERE — 
REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  SHIPS — CAPTAIN  HULL  RETURNS  TO 
BOSTON— HIS  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE. .  .  1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   II. 


LIST  OF  FRIGATES  FIT  FOR  SEA — FIRST  BRITISH  SHIP  CAPTURED  AND  SENT  INTO  NORECLK 
— CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT  SCHOONER  WHITING — COMBAT  BET  WEES  THE 
LETTER-OF- MARQUE-SCHOONER  FALCON  AND  THE  BRITISH  CUTTER  HERO — SIXTY-FIVE 
PRIVATEERS  AND  LETTERS-OF-MARQUE  AT  SEA  ON  THE  1 GTH  OF  JULY,  1812 — FOUR 
PRIVATEERS  LEAVE  THE  CAPES  OF  THE  DELAWARE  ON  THE  20TH  OF  JULY — PRIZES 
ARRIVING  ALMOST  DAILY  IN  THE  ATLANTIC  PORTS— SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  OF  THE  PRIVA 
TEER-SCHOONER  FAME.  OF  SALEM — CAPTURE  OF  A  BRITISH  TRANSPORT  BRIG.  SENT  INTO 
GLOUCESTER — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  SLOOP  POLLY  FROM  THE  ENGLISH  SLOOP-OF- 
WAR  INDIAN — CAPTURE  OF  THE  SHIP  MARGARET  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  TEA  7.F.R — EXT R ACT 
FROM  ^LO_NDON  JKEWSPA^KR-—  BRITISH  BRIG  LEONIDAS  SENT  INTO  SAVANNAH  BY  THE 
MARS — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  S.  CLARK  BY  THE  GLOBE,  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — 
PRIVATEER  JOHN  RETURNS  TO  SALEM,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE-  COMMODOREJEjfARNEY 
ARRIVES  AT  NEWPORT  IN  THE  ROSSIE,  OX  THE  30TH  OF  AUGUST.  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL 
CRUISE — A  SEVERE  FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  SHADOW  AND  BRITISH  SHIR  MARY — 
BRITISH  SHIP  QUEBEC  CAPTURED  BY  THE  SARATOGA — CHASE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  JACK'S 
FAVORITE  BY  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  SUBTLE,  AND  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  LATTER..  .  35 


CHAPTER    III. 

RATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  FRIGATE  UNITED  STATES  AND  JLHE  BRITISH  FRIOAJB 
MACEJiOXIAX — REMARKS  ON  ADMIRAL  WARREN 'S  BLOCKADING  THE  AMERICAN  FORTS — 
BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  CAPTURED  BY  THE  COMET — A  VALUABLE  BRITISH  SHIP  SENT  INTO  PORT 
LAND  BY  THE  DECATUR — EXTRACT  FROM  TOE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  ATLAS.j  CAPTAIN  MAF- 
FET.  ANDJilS^ACCOUXT  OF  AN  ACTION  WITH  TWO  BRITISH  SHIPS.  WHICH  HE  CAPTURES 
— BETWEEN  APRIL  AXD  AUGUST,  1812.  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-SIX  AMERICAN  MER 
CHANT  VESSELS  ARIUYEAT  NEW  YORK — ON  THE  18TH  OF  JUNE,  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  PRESENT  CAPTAIN  ISAAC  HULL  WITH  THE  FREEDOM  OF  THEIR 
CITY  IN  A  GOLD  BOX — COMMODORE  BARNEY  RETURNS  TO  BALTIMORE,  ON  THE  1  ()TH  OF 
NOVEMBER,  FROM  A  SECOND  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE— EXTRACT  FROM  HIS  LOG-BOOK  ON 
THAT  CRUISE — A  GALLANT,  BUT  UNSUCCESSFUL  CONFLICT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER 
NONSUCH  AND  AN  ENGLISH  SHIP,  OFF  MARTINIQUE — AJUEMniM  \T.  FROM  TTTK  ^n.V^C^^XT^ 
OF  NEW  YORK  TO  THE  CONGRESS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES— BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  HAMILTON 
SENT  INTO  BALTIMORE  BY  THE  DOLPHIN  PRIVATEER — A  JRRLTTSH  SHIP  OF  22  GITXS 


DRIVEN  ON  SHORE  NEAR  DEMARARA.  BY  THE  GENERAL  ARMSTRONG — BRITISH  SHIP  QUEEN, 
lb  GT'NS  AND  40   Ml5?J"CAPTURED  BY   THE    GENERAL    ARMSTRONG,  ETC 72 


CHAPTER     TV. 


DESPERATE    BATTLE   BETWEEN   THE   PRIVATEUR   GENERAL   ARMSTRONG.    CAPTAIN    CHAMP- 
LIN.  AND  jV  BRITISH  FRIGATE — A  CRUISE  IN  THE   PRIVATEER  BRIG   YANKEE— BRIO 

ANN,   A    PRIZE    TO    THE   SNAP-DRAGON — SEVERAL    PRIZES    BY   THE    SAUCY   JACK.   OF 
CHAP.LEfiTOX — HOW   PRIVATEERS   MANAGE    TO    TAKE    MERCHANT     VKi?SE.TS_  .OUT   QF   A 


CONTENTS.  xi 

FLEET — A  COUP-DE-MAIN — EXPLOSION  OF  A   PRIVATEER— PRIVATEER  WASP  CAPTURED, 

AFTER  A   RUNNING    FIGHT   OF  NINE   HOURS — A  VALUABLE   PRIZE    BY   THE   PRIVATEER 

SNAP-DRAGON — BRAVE   DEFENCE   OF    THE    SCHOONER    LOTTERY— A.   GALLANT    ACTION 

*BY   THE    PRIVATEER   DOLPHINT    CAPTAIN   STAFFORD,  OFF   CAPE   ST.  VINCENT,  WITH  AN 

IdNUUSH   SHIP  AND   A   BRIG — HE    CAPTURE?}    rnv.v  WVTJT — PATRIOTISM   OF  THE   CITY 

OF  BALTIMORE — INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS   CAPTAIN   BOYLE,  ON  THE  COAST 

OF   BRAZIL  AND  AMONG  THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS..  .    105 


CHAPTER    Y. 


I  THE  PRIVATEER  GOVERNOR  TOMPKINS  FROM  A  BRTTIRTT 
_FRTGATff — THE  PRIVATEERS  YANKEE  AND  BLOCKADE  SAIL  FROM  NEWPORT  ON  THB 
1ST  OF  JUNE,  1813— BRITISH  POLICY  OF  TAKING  NEW  ORLEANS— SCHOONER  FLYING- 
FISH  TAKEN  BY  THE  SAUCY  JACK — BRITISH  SHIP  INDUSTRY  SENT  INTO  BERGEN,  NORWAY, 
BY  THE  TRUE-BLOODED  YANKEE — BRITISH  SHIP  LONDON  PACKET  CAPTURED  BY  THE  ARGUS 
AND  SENT  INTO  BOSTON — BRITISH  PACKET  MORGTANNA,  CAPTURED  BY  BOARDING,  BY 
THE  SARATOGA— -FIFTEEN  BRITISH  VESSELS  CAPTURED  OFF  JAMAICA,  BY  THE  LOVELY 


A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE — TABLE  OF  PRIVATEERS  BELONGING  TO  SALEM— CAPTAIN  STAF 
FORD'S  FAMOUS  DEFENCE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
GRAMPUS  AT  NEW  YORK  —  NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  THIS  VESSEL,  WHILE  CRUISING 
AMONG  THE  CANARY  ISLANDS — EULOGY  ON  CAPTAIN  JOHN  MURPHY—DESPERATE 
ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  GLOBE,  CAPTAIN  RICHARD  MOON,  WITH  TWO 
ENGLISH,  BRIGS,  OFF  MADEIRA— BRITISH  SHIP  NEREID  CAPTURED  OFF  MADEIRA  BY  THE 
GOVERNOR  TOMPKINS— INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  IN  THE 
SCHOONER  COMET .  140  ' 


CHAPTER     YI. 


DESPERATE  BAXTT/R-FnTTOHT  TtKTWy.FA'  THE  AMERICAN  PRIVATEER-SCHOONER  DECATUR, 
CHARIdTgfrr™,  rAJxrMM  PTRON.  AND  HIS^BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  DOMINICA,  QJ 
THE  JJTH  AUGUS^  1  SI  S^-HAira  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  DECATUR  AND  HER  PRIZE  AT  CHARLESTON 
— REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE — THE  DECATUR  STARTS  ON  A  FRK8H  CRUISE  FROM  CHAR-i 
LESTON.  ON  THE  26TH  NOVEMBER  —  VOYAGE  TO  FRANCE  IN  LETTER-OF-MAEQUE 
SCHOONER,  DAVID  PORTER,  GEORGE  COGGESHALL,  COMMAN PER — LOADS  AT  PROVIDENCE, 
RHODE  ISLAND — SAILS  FROM  NEWPORT— CHASED  OFF  CHARLESTON — ARRIVES  AT  THAT 
PORT — SAILS  FROM  CHARLESTON  FOR  FRANCE — LOSS  OF  FIRST  PRIZE — TERRIBLE  GALE  IN 
THE  BAY  OF  BISCAY — THE  SCHOONER  THROWN  ON  HER  BEAM-ENDS — ARRIVES  AT  LA 
TESTE — SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  BAY  OF  BISCAY — MAKES  SEVERAL  CAPTURES — ARRIVES 
AT  L'lLE  DIEU— REMARKS  ON  THAT  ISLAND— DIFFICULTIES  AT  BORDEAUX— HURRIES 

AWAY  FROM  LA  TESTE — VISIT  TOLAROCHELLE BRIG  IDA'S  ESCAPE  FROM  LA  ROCHELLE 

— ACCOUNT    OF   THE    CAPTURE   OF    THE  BRITISH   SHIP    MARY  BY  THE   RATTLESNAKE — 
VISIT  TO  BORDEAUX  AND  PARIS..  .  172 


XU  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTERVII. 

• 

CRUISES  OF  THE  SCOURGE  AND  RATTLESNAKE — THEY  TAKE  NUMEROUS  PRIZES — FRI 
GATE  PRESIDENT,  COMMODORE  RODGERS,  CRUISING  OFF  THE  NORTH  CAPE — DRONTHEIM, 
IN  NORWAY — THE  RATTLESNAKE  ARRIVES  AT  LA  ROCHELLE — THE  SAUCY  JACK  CAP 
TURES  THE  SHIP  PELHAM,  AND  TAKES  HER  TO  CHARLESTON— THE  GRAND  TURK 
CAPTURES  THE  INDIAN  LASS,  AND  SENDS  HER  TO  SALEM — CRUISE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
PERRY,  OF  BALTIMORE — DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  NEUFCHATEL  PRIVATEER 
ANBTHR  JBOATS  OF  A  BRITISH  MAN-OF-WAR  OFF  NANTUCKET — THE  PRIVATEER 
HARPY,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  PACKET  PRINCESS  ELIZABETH — 

THE  PRIVATEER  SABIN3,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  COUNTESS  OF 
HARCOURT— CAPTURE  OF  THE  NEW  FREDERICK  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  KEMP — NARROW 
ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  FOX  FROM  A  BRITISH  SHIP-OF-WAR — THE  PRIVATEER 
CAROLINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  BRIG  ELIZABETH,  AND  SENDS 
HER  TO  CHARLESTON — CAPTURE  OF  A  SCHOONER  BY  THE  KEMP  OF  BALTIMORE  THE 
SCHOONER'S  ARRIVAL  AT  CAPE  FRANCOIS .  219 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


A  SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE-SCHOONER  LEO,  GEORGE  COGGESHALL,  COM 
MANDER,  FROltt  I/S2IENT  TO  CHARLESTON,  AND  HER  CAPTURE  IN  THE  YEARS  1814  AND 
1815 — PREPARE  AND  FIT  OUT  THE  LEO  AT  L' ORIENT — DISARMED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE 
FRENCH  GOVERNMENT — SAIL  FROM  L'ORIENT — PROCEED  TO  THE  ENGLISH  CHANNEL — 
CAPTURE  SEVERAL  PRIZES — COMPELLED  TO  LEAVE  THE  CHANNEL  AND  STEER  TO  THE 
SOUTHWARD,  ON  ACCOUNT  OF  BEING  BADLY  ARMED,  AND  VERY  DEFICIENT  IN  SAILS 
AND  RIGGING — ARRIVE  OFF  LISBON — DISMASTED  WHILE  IN  CHASE  OF  A  BRITISH 
PACKET — TAKEN  BY  THE  GRANICUS  FRIGATE,  AND  TOWED  ROUND  TO  GIBRALTAR — 
PROCEED  IN  THE  GRANICUS  TO  TETUAN  BAY,  MOROCCO — RETURN  TO  GIBRALTAR — 
REFUSAL  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  THAT  PLACE  TO  PAROLE  CAPTAIN  AND  OFFICERS — EX 
AMINATION  AT  THE  ADMIRALTY  OFFICE — ESCAPE  FROM  THE  GARRISON — GO  ON  BOARD 
A  NORWEGIAN  GALLIOT — HUBBUB  AND  CONFUSION  IN  GIBRALTAR  TO  FIND  THE  CAP 
TAIN  OF  THE  LEO — TAKE  PASSAGE  TO  ALGECIRAS  WITH  A  GANG  OF  SMUGGLERS — UN 
HIDE  WITH  THE  FAMILY  OF  THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GANG AIDED  AND  PROTECTED  K Y 

THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL,  HORATIO  SPRAGUE,  ESQ. — LEAVE  ALGECIRAS,  IN  DISGUIS.V 
FOR  CADIZ — REMARKS  ON  THAT  REGION  OF  COUNTRY — ARRIVE  AT  CADIZ — KIND  R IN 
CEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE  BY  HIS  OLD  FRIENDS  AND  COUNTRYMEN  —RESIDENCE  AT 
CADIZ — THEATRES  AND  BULL- FIGHTS —SAIL  FROM  CADIZ  FOR  LISBON  IN  A  PORTU 
GUESE  VESSEL 253 


CHAPTER   IX. 


THE  PRIVATEER  YORK,  OF  BALTIMORE.  RETURNS  TO  THAT  PLACE  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL 
CRUISE  ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL,  AND  AMONG  THE  ISLANDS  IN  THE  WEST  INDIES  - 
THE  PRIVATRKR  PORTS  MOUTH  CAPTURES  THR  SHIP  JAMES,  OF  LONDON -THE  JAMES  AH 


ll 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

RIVES  AT  PORTSMOUTH,  N.  II. — REMARKS  ON  PEIVATKEES  IN  NOVEMBER,  1814— 
A  GREAT  «I™T™|/I  r>T?  WI^ITA  vra  rw  TTiMreynnT_  rN»T.AVT)  flfl  THE  9TH  OF  SEP- 

PRlVATEERS — 'rHETRUE-BLOQDED  YANKEE,  PRIVATEER,  SAILS  FROM  BREST,  ON  THE 
23Tir"OF~"NOVEMBER,  1814,  ON  A  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL — ANECDOTE  TO 
SHOW  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  TIMES—ANECDOTE  ABOUT  AN  AMERICAN  AND  A  BRITISH 
OFFICER — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ANN  DOROTHEA,  SENT  INTO  BOSTON 
BY  THE  SARATOGA — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRIG  HIRAM  BY  THE  DAVID  PORTER,  OF  BOSTON 
— ARRIVAL  OF  THE  GRAND  TURK  AT  SALEM,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE — S KV flKJa. 
nn\n?T.y^T  ttBvrwii'.flx,  THE  SAUCY  .TAf!K  AND  TWO  BRITISH  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SHIPS.  OFF 
ST.  DOMINGO— -HATW  mrm^  A  vp  CAPTURE  OF  SEVERAL  BRITISH  MERCHANTMEN,  BY 
THE  KEMP,  PRIVATEER  OF  BALTIMORE — CAPTURE  OF  THE  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  GENERAL 
WILLOUGHBY  BY  THE  YANKEE,  ORDERED  FOR  CHARLESTON — CRUISE  OF  THE  PRI 
VATEER  HARPY — HER  CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  GARLAND — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
ENGLISH  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  STAR,  BY  THE  SURPRISE .  293 


CHAPTER    X. 


DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  SHIP  HORNET,  CAPTAIN  PTTmt.TE  A\?n 
THE  BRITISH  SLOOP-flF-WA"  ™nvrm™T^-f>T?M  AWTTC  ON  THE  BATTLE — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
BRIG  LADY  TROWBRIDGE  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  INO,  OF  BOSTON — LOSS  OF  THE  INO  OFF 
CHARLESTON  BAR— CAPTURE  OF  THE  SHIP  MARY  AND  SUSAN,  BY  THE  CHASSEUR— CAP 
TURE  OF  THE  SHIP  ADVENTURE  BY  THE  SAME  VESSEL — SENT  INTO  CHARLESTON — EXTRACT 
FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  MC.  DONOUGH — INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE 
PRIVATEER  YOUNG  WASP— CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ARABELLA.  OF  CALCUTTA, 
BY  THE  SHIP  RAMBLER  OF  BOSTON — CAPTURE  OF  THE  PACKET-SHIP  ELIZABETH, 
AFTER  A  SHORT  BATTLE,  BY  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  JACOB  JONES,  OF  BOSTON — CAP 
TURE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HYDER-ALI,  IN  THE  EAST  INDIES,  BY  THE  BRITISH  FRIGATE 

OWEN  GLENDOWER — CAPTAIN  BOYLE'S.  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL,  IN  THE 
PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR — A  LIST  OF  PRIZES  MADE  BY  CAPTAIN  BOYLE— CAPTAIN 
BOYLE'^  BURLESQUE  BLOCKADE — CAPTURE  OF  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  ST. 

f,AWRF,XORr  BY  CAPTATX-   ttnyTJ^   TM  Tfjg  CHASSEUR— ARRIVAL    OF  CAPTAIN   BOYLE  AT 

BALTIMORE  IN  THE  PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  IN  THE  WEST 
INDIES— THE  AUTHOR'S  ADMIRATION  OF  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  AND  HIS  GALLANT  EX 
PLOITS.  . .  .331 


CHAPTER    XI. 


CAPTAIN  REID'S  CRUISE— ARRIVAL  AT  FAYAL — ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  GALLANT  DEFENCE— 
COPY  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL  AT  FAYAL  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OP 
STATE  AT  WASHINGTON — CAPTAIN  REID'S  ARRIVAL  AT  SAVANNAH — HIS  RECEPTION  A! 
THAT  PLACE — PUBLIC  DINNER  GIVEN  HIM  AT  RICHMOND,  VA. — TOASTS,  ETC. — • 
CONTINUATION  OF  PRIZES  AFTER  THK  CONCLUSION  OF  PEACfl — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRI- 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

VATEER-BRIG  WARRIOR  FROM  A  BRITISH  FRIGATE  AND  A  "IJEVENTY-FOUR.''—  SHE 
ARRIVES  AT  NEW  YORK — BRIG  TAGUS,  FROM  SMYRNA,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  LETTER-OF- 
MARQUE  BRUTUS,  OF  BOSTON— BRITISH  PACKET  WINDSOR  CASTLE,  FROM  FALMOUTH,  ENG 
LAND,  FOR  HALIFAX,  CAPTURED  BY  THK  ROGER  AND  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — TRANSPORT- 
SHIP  MOSELY,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  RAMBLER,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON 
— BRITISH  BRIG  BOURWAN,  FROM  PENANG,  WITH  A  VALUABLE  CARGO,  CAPTURED  BY  THE 
JACOB  JONES,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON — EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
MC  DONOUGH,  AT  MORLAIX,  FRANCE— PRIVATEERS  PREPARING  FOR  SEA,  WHEN  THE 
NEWS  OF  PEACE  ARRIVES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 370 

CONCLUDING  REMARKS,  &c 394 

TREATY  OF  PEACE 401 

APPENDIX „ 415 

INDEX ,,  429 


MESSAGE    OF    THE    PRESIDENT. 

FROM  THE  NATIONAL  INTELLIGENCER  EXTRA. 

4  o'clock  P.M.,  June  18,  1812. 

The  injunction  of  secrecy  was  about  an  hour  ago  removed 
from  the  following  message,  report  or  manifesto,  and  act. 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  : 

I  communicate  to  Congress  certain  documents,  being  a  contin 
uation  of  those  heretofore  laid  before  them,  on  the  subject  of  our 
affairs  with  Great  Britain. 

Without  going  back  beyond  the  renewal  in  1803,  of  the  war 
in  which  Great  Britain  is  engaged,  and  omitting  unrepaired 
wrongs  of  inferior  magnitude,  the  conduct  of  her  government 
presents  a  series  of  acts  hostile  to  the  United  Slates  as  an  inde 
pendent  and  neutral  nation. 

British  cruisers  have  been  in  the  continued  practice  of  vio 
lating  the  American  flag  on  the  great  high  way  of  nations,  arid 
of  seizing  and  carrying  off  persons  sailing  under  it ;  not  in  tho 
exercise  of  a  belligerent  right,  founded  on  the  law  of  nations 
against  an  enemy,  but  of  a  municipal  prerogative  over  British 
subjects.  British  jurisdiction  is  thus  extended  to  neutral  vessels 
in  a  situation  where  no  laws  can  operate  but  the  law  of  nations 
and  the  laws  of  the  country  to  which  the  vessels  belong ;  and  a 
self-redress  is  assumed  which,  if  British  subjects  were  wrong 
fully  detained  and  alone  concerned,  is  that  substitution  of  force, 
for  a  resort  to  the  responsible  sovereign,  which  falls  within  the 


MESSAGE. 

definition  of  war.  Could  the  seizure  of  British  subjects  in  such 
cases  be  regarded  as  within  the  exercise  of  a  belligerent  right, 
the  acknowledged  laws  of  war,  which  forbid  an  article  of  cap 
tured  property  .to  be  adjudged  without  a  regular  investigation 
before  a  competent  tribunal,  would  imperiously  demand  the  fair 
est  trial  where  the  sacred  rights  of  persons  were  at  issue.  In 
place  of  such  a  trial,  these  rights  are  subjected  to  the  will  of  every 
petty  commander. 

The  practice,  hence,  is  so  far  from  affecting  British  subjects 
alone,  that,  under  the  pretext  of  searching  for  these,  thousands 
of  American  citizens,  under  the  safeguard  of  public  law,  and  of 
their  national  flag,  have  been  torn  from  their  country  and  from 
every  thing  dear  to  them ;  have  been  dragged  on  board  ships  of 
war  of  a  foreign  nation,  and  exposed,  under  the  severities  of 
their  discipline,  to  be  exiled  to  the  most  distant  and  deadly 
climes,  to  risk  their  lives  in  the  battles  of  their  oppressors,  and 
to  be  the  melancholy  instruments  of  taking  away  those  of  their 
own  brethren. 

Against  this  crying  enormity,  which  Great  Britain  would  be 
so  prompt  to  avenge  if  committed  against  herself,  the  United 
States  have  in  vain  exhausted  remonstrances  and  expostula 
tions.  And  that  no  proof  might  be  wanting  of  their  concilia 
tory  dispositions,  and  no  pretext  left  for  a  continuance  of  the 
practice,  the  British  government  was  formally  assured  of  the 
readiness  of  the  United  States  to  enter  into  arrangements,  such 
as  could  not  be  rejected,  if  the  recovery  of  British  subjects  were 
the  real  and  sole  object.  The  communication  passed  without 
effect. 

British  cruisers  have  been  in  the  practice  also  of  violating  the 
rights  and  the  peace  of  oar  coasts.  They  hover  over  and  ha 
rass  our  entering  and  departing  commerce.  To  the  most  insult 
ing  pretensions,  they  have  added  the  most  lawless  proceedings 
in  our  very  harbors;  and  have  wantonly  spilt  American 'blood 
within  the  sanctuary  of  our  territorial  jurisdiction.  The  princi- 


MESSAGE. 

pies  and  rules  enforced  by  that  nation,  when  a  neutral  nation, 
against  armed  vessels  of  belligerents  hovering  near  her  coasts, 
and  disturbing  her  commerce,  are  well  known.  When  called 
on,  nevertheless,  by  the  United  States  to  punish  the  greater 
offences  committed  by  her  own  vessels,  her  government  has  be 
stowed  on  their  commanders  additional  marks  of  honor  and  con 
fidence. 

Under  pretended  blockades,  without  the  presence  of  an  ade 
quate  force,  and  sometimes  without  the  practicability  of  applying 
one,  our  commerce  has  been  plundered  in  every  sea ;  the  great 
staples  of  our  country  have  been  cut  off  from  their  legitimate 
markets ;  and  a  destructive  blow  aimed  at  our  agricultural  and 
maritime  interests.  In  aggravation  of  these  predatory  measures, 
they  have  been  considered  as  in  force  from  the  dates  of  their  no 
tification  ;  a  retrospective  effect  being  thus  added,  as  has  been 
done  in  other  important  cases,  to  the  unlawfulness  of  the  course 
pursued.  And  to  render  the  outrage  the  more  signal,  these  mock 
blockades  have  been  reiterated  and  enforced  in  the  face  of  official 
communications  from  the  British  government,  declaring,  as  the 
true  definition  of  a  legal  blockade  "that  particular  ports  must  be 
actually  invested,  and  previous  warning  given  to  vessels  bound 
to  them, -not  to  enter." 

~Not  content  with  these  occasional  expedients  for  laying  waste 
our  neutral  trade,  the  cabinet  of  Great  Britain  resorted,  at  length, 
to  the  sweeping  system  of  blockades,  under  the  name  of  orders  in 
council,  which  has  been  moulded  and  managed  as  might  best  suit 
its  political  views,  its  commercial  jealousies,  or  the  avidity  of 
British  cruisers. 

To  our  remonstrances  against  the  complicated  and  transcend 
ent  injustice  of  this  innovation,  the  first  reply  was,  that  the  or 
ders  were  reluctantly  adopted  by  Great  Britain  as  a  necessary 
retaliation  on  decrees  of  her  enemy  proclaiming  a  general  block 
ade  of  the  British  Isles,  at  a  time  when  the  naval  force  of  that 
enemv  dared  not  to  issue  from  his  own  uorts.  She  was  re- 


XV1I1  MESSAGE. 

minded,  without  effect,  that  her  own  prior  blockades,  unsup 
ported  by  an  adequate  naval  force,  actually  applied  and  contin 
ued,  were  a  bar  to  this  plea ;  that  executed  edicts  against  mil 
lions  of  our  property  could  not  be  retaliation  on  edicts,  confes 
sedly  impossible  to  be  executed ;  that  retaliation,  to  be  just, 
should  fall  on  the  party  setting  the  guilty  example,  not  on  an  in 
nocent  party,  wrhich  was  not  even  chargeable  with  an  acquies 
cence  in  it. 

When  deprived  of  this  flimsy  veil  for  a  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  her  enemy,  by  the  repeal  of  his  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  Great  Britain,  her  cabinet,  instead  of  a  corresponding 
repeal,  or  a  practical  discontinuance  of  its  orders,  formally 
avowed  a  deteimination  to  persist  in  them  against  the  United 
States,  until  the  markets  of  her  enemy  should  be  laid  open  to 
British  products;  thus  asserting  an  obligation  on  a  neutral 
power  to  require  one  belligerent  to  encourage,  by  its  internal 
regulations,  the  trade  of  another  belligerent ;  contradicting  her 
own  practice  towards  all  nation?,  in  peace  as  well  as  in  war ; 
and  betraying  the  insincerity  of  those  professions  which  in 
culcated  a  belief  that,  having  resorted  to  her  orders  with  re 
gret,  she  was  anxious  to  find  an  occasion  for  putting  an  end  to 
them. 

Abandoning  still  more  all  respect  for  the  neutral  rights  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  its  own  consistency,  the  British  govern 
ment  now  demands,  as  pre-requisites  to  a  repeal  of  its  orders  as 
they  relate  to  the  United  States,  that  a  formality  should  be  ob 
served  in  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  nowise  necessary  to 
their  termination,  nor  exemplified  by  British  usage ;  and  that  the 
French  repeal,  besides  including  that  portion  of  the  decrees 
which  operates  within  a  territorial  jurisdiction,  as  well  as  that 
which  operates  on  the  high  seas  against  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  should  not  be  a  single  special  repeal  in  relation 
to  the  United  States,  but  should  be  extended  to  whatever  other 
neutral  nations  unconnected  with  them,  may  be  affected  by 


MESSAGE. 

those  decrees.  And,  as  an  additional  insult,  they  are  called  on 
for  a  formal  disavowal  of  conditions  and  pretensions  advanced 
by  the  French  government,  for  which  the  United  States  are  so 
far  from  having  made  themselves  responsible,  that,  in  official  ex 
planations,  which  have  been  published  to  the  world,  and  in  a  cor 
respondence  of  the  American  minister  at  London  with  the  Brit 
ish  minister  for  foreign  affairs,  such  a  responsibility  was  ex 
plicitly  and  emphatically  disclaimed. 

It  has  become,  indeed,  sufficiently  certain  that  the  commerce 
of  the  United  States  is  to  be  sacrificed,  not  as  interfering  witn 
the  belligerent  rights  of  Great  Britain,  not  as  supplying  the 
wants  of  her  enemies,  which  she  herself  supplies,  but  as  in 
terfering  with  the  monopoly  which  she  covets  for  her  own 
commerce  and  navigation.  She  carries  on  a  war  against  the 
lawful  commerce  of  a  friend,  that  she  may  the  better  carry 
on  a  commerce  polluted  by  the  forgeries  and  perjuries  which 
are,  for  the  most  part,  the  only  passports  by  which  it  can  suc 
ceed. 

Anxious  to  make  every  experiment  short  of  the  last  resort  of 
injured  nations,  the  United  States  have  withheld  from  Great 
Britain,  under  success' ve  modifications,  the  benefits  of  a  free  in 
tercourse  with  their  market,  the  loss  of  which  could  not  but  out 
weigh  the  profits  accruing  from  her  restrictions  of  our  commerce 
with  other  nations.  .  Vnd  to  entitle  these  experiments  to  the 
more  favorable  consideration,  they  were  so  framed  as  to  enable 
her  to  place  her  adversary  u-nder  the  exclusive  operation  of 
them.  To  these  appeals  her  government  has  been  equally  in 
flexible,  as  if  willing  to  make  sacrifices  of  every  sort,  rather  than 
yield  to  the  claims  of  justice,  or  renounce  the  errors  of  a  false 
pride.  Nay,  so  far  were  the  attempts  carried,  to  overcome  the 
attachment  of  the  British  cabinet  to  its  unjust  edicts,  that  it  re 
ceived  every  encouragement  within  the  competency  of  the  ex 
ecutive  branch  of  our  government,  to  expect  that  a  repeal  of 
them  would  be  followed  by  a  war  between  the  United  States 


XX  MESSAGE. 

and  France,  unless  the  French  edicts  sho-ild  also  be  re 
pealed.  Even  this  communication,  although  silencing  forever 
the  plea  of  a  disposition  in  the  United  States  to  acquiesce  in 
those  edicts,  originally  the  sole  plea  for  them,  received  no  at 
tention. 

If  no  other  proof  existed  of  a  predetermination  of  the  British 
government  against  a  repeal  of  its  orders,  it  might  be  found  on 
the  correspondence  of  the  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  at  London,  and  +he  British  Secretary  for  Foreign  Affairs 
in  1810,  on  the  quest:  ^n  whether  the  blockade  of  May,  1806, 
was  considered  as  in  force  or  as  not  in  force.  It  had  been  ascer 
tained  that  the  French  government,  which  urged  this  blockade 
as  the  ground  of  its  Berlin  decree,  was  willing,  in  the  event  of 
its  removal,  to  repeal  that  decree ;  which,  being  followed  by 
alternate  repeals  of  the  other  offensive  edicts,  might  abolish  the 
whole  system  on  both  sides.  This  inviting  opportunity  for 
accomplishing  an  object  so  important  to  the  United  States,  and 
professed  so  often  to  be  the  desire  of  both  the  belligerents,  was 
made  known  to  the  British  government.  As  that  government 
admits  that  an  actual  application  of  an  adequate  force  is  neces 
sary  to  the  existence  of  a  legal  blockade,  and  it  was  notorious, 
that  if  such  a  force  had  ever  been  applied,  its  long  discontinu 
ance  had  annulled  the  blockade  in  question,  there  could  be  no 
sufficient  objection  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  to  a  formal  re 
vocation  of  it;  and  no  imaginable  objection,  to  a  declaration  of 
the  fact,  that  the  blockade  did  not  exist.  The  declaration  would 
have  been  consistent  with  her  avowed  principles  of  blockade, 
and  would  have  enabled  the  United  States  to  demand  from 
France  the  pledged  repeal  of  her  decrees  ;  either  with  success, 
in  which  case  the  way  would  have  been  opened  for  a  general 
repeal  of  the  belligerent  edicts ;  or,  without  success,  in  which 
case  the  United  States  would  have  been  justified  in  turning  their 
measures  exclusively  against  France.  The  Briiish  government 
would,  however,  neither  rescind  the  blockade  nor  declare  its 


MESSAGE.  XXI 

non-existence  ;  nor  permit  its  non-existence  to  be  inferred  and 
affirmed  by  the  American  Plenipotentiary.  On  the  contrary,  by 
representing  the  blockade  to  be  comprehended  in  the  orders  in 
council,  the  United  States  were  compelled  so  to  regard  it  in  their 
subsequent  proceedings. 

There  was  a  period  when  a  favorable  change  in  the  policy  of 
the  British  cabinet  was  justly  considered  as  established.  The 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  here  proposed 
an  adjustment  of  the  differences  more  immediately  endangering 
the  harmony  of  the  two  countries.  The  proposition  was  accepted 
with  a  promptitude  and  cordiality  corresponding  with  the  inva 
riable  professions  of  this  government.  A  foundation  appeared 
to  be  laid  for  a  sincere  and  lasting  reconciliation.  The  prospect, 
however,  quickly  vanished.  The  whole  proceeding  was  disa 
vowed  by  the  British  government  without  any  explanations 
which  could  at  that  time  repress  the  belief,  that  the  disavowal 
proceeded  from  a  spirit  of  hostility  to  the  commercial  rights  and 
prosperity  of  the  aited  States.  And  it  has  since  come  into 
proof,  that,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  public  minister  was 
holding  the  language  of  friendship,  and  inspiring  confidence  in 
the  sincerity  of  the  neg  ciation  with  which  he  was  charged,  a  se 
cret  agent  of  his  govern  .ent  was  employed  in  intrigues,  having 
for  their  object  a  subversion  of  our  government,  and  a  dismem 
berment  of  our  happy  union. 

In  reviewing  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towards  the  United 
States  our  attention  is  necessarily  drawn  to  the  warfare  just  re 
newed  by  the  savages  on  one  of  our  extensive  frontiers  ;  a  war 
fare  which  is  known  to  spare  neither  age  nor  sex,  and  to  be  dis 
tinguished  by  features  peculiarly  shocking  to  humanity.     It  is 
difficult   to   account  for   the  activity   and  combinations  which 
have  for    some    time     been     developing    themselves    among       > 
tribes  in  the  constant  intercourse  with  British  traders  and  garri 
sons,  without  connecting  their  hostility  with  that  influence ;  and 
without  recollecting  the  authenticated  examples  of  such  interpo- 


Xxil  MESSAGE. 

sitions  heretofore  furnished  by  the  officers  and  agents  of  that  go 
vernment. 

x/feuch  is  the  spectacle  of  injuries  and  indignities  which  have 
been  heaped  011  our  country  :  and  such  the  cnsis  which  its  un 
exampled  forbearance  and  conciliatory  efforts  have  not  been  able 
to  avert.  It  might  at  least  have  been  expected  that  an  enlight 
ened  nation,  if  less  urged  by  moral  obligations,  or  invited  by 
friendly  dispositions  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  would  have 
found,  in  its  true  interest  alone,  a  sufficient  motive  to  respect 
their  rights  and  their  tranquillity  on  the  high  seas  ;  that  an  en 
larged  policy  would  have  favored  that  free  and  general  circula 
tion  of  commerce,  in  which  the  British  nation  is  at  all  times 
interested,  and  which  in  times  of  war  is  the  best  alleviation  of  its 
calamities  to  herself  as  well  as  the  other  belligerents  ;  and  more 
especially  that  the  British  cabinet  would  not,  for  the  sake  of  the 
precarious  and  sv  ~:eptitious  intercourse  with  hostile  markets, 
have  persevered  in  a  course  of  measures  which  necessarily  put  at 
hazard  the  invaluable  market  of  a  great  and  growing  country, 
d  isposed  to  cultivate  the  mutual  advantages  of  an  active  commerce. 
Other  councils  have  prevailed.  Our  moderation  and  concilia 
tion  have  had  no  other  effect  than  to  encourage  perseverance, 
and  to  enlarge  pretensions.  We  behold  our  seafaring  citizens 
still  the  daily  victims  of  lawless  violence,  committed  on  the  great 
common  and  highway  of  nations,  even  within  sight  of  the  coun 
try  w-hich  owes  them  protection.  We  behold  our  vessels  freight 
ed  with  the  products  of  our  soil  and  industry,  or  returning  with 
the  honest  proceeds  of  them,  wrested  from  their  lawful  destina 
tions,  confiscated  by  prize  courts,  no  longer  the  organs  of  public 
Jaw,  but  the  instruments  of  arbitrary  edicts;  and  their  unfortu 
nate  crews  dispersed  and  lost,  or  forced  or  inveigled,  in  British 
ports,  into  British  fleets :  whilst  arguments  are  employed  in  sup 
port  of  these  aggressions,  which  have  no  foundation  but  in  a 
principle  equally  supporting  a  claim  to  regulate  our  external 
commerce  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 


MESSAGE.  Xxiil 

We  behold,  in  fine,  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain  a  state  of  war 
against  the  United  States  ;  and  on  the  side  of  the  United  States 
a  state  of  peace  towards  Great  Britain. 

Whether  the  United  States  shall  continue  passive  under  these 
progressive  usurpations,  and  these  accumulating  wrongs ;  or,  op 
posing  force  to  force  in  defence  of  their  natural  rights,  shall  com 
mit  a  just  cause  into  the  hands  of  the  Almighty  Disposer  of 
events,  avoiding  all  connections  which  might  entangle  it  in  the 
contests  or  views  of  other  powers,  and  preserving  a  constant  rea 
diness  to  concur  in  an  honorable  re-establishment  of  peace  and 
friendship,  is  a  solemn  question,  which  the  constitution  wisely 
confides  to  the  legislative  department  of  the  government.  In  re 
commending  it  to  their  early  deliberations,  I  am  happy  in  the 
assurance  that  the  decision  will  be  worthy  the  enlightened 
and  patriotic  coundils  of  a  virtuous,  a  free,  and  a  powerful  nation. 

Having  presented  this  view  of  the  relations  of  the  United 
States  with  Great  Britain  and  of  the  solemn  alternative  growing 
out  of  them,  I  proceed  to  remark  that  the  communications  last 
made  tfcfC^Mf'ess  on  the  subject  of  our  relations  with  France  will 
have  sjpjHKhat  since  the  revocation  of  her  decrees  as  they  vio 
lated  'Ine  neutral  rights  of  the  United  States,  her  government 
^  hjrf^uthorized  illegal  captures,  by  its  privateers  and  public  ships, 
1  aricl  that  other  outrages  have  been  practised  on  our  vessels  and 
our  Citizens.  It  will  have  been  seen  also,  that  no  indemnity 
had; teen  provided,  or  satisfactorily  pledged  for  the  extensive 
spoliations  committed  under  the  violent  and  retrospective  orders 
^Uhe  French  government  against  the  property  of  our  citizens 
seized  within  the  jurisdiction  of  France.  I  abstain  at  this  time 
from  recommending  to  the  consideration  of  Congress  definitive 
measures  with  respect  to  that  nation,  in  the  expectation  that  the 
result  of  unclosed  discussions  between  our  minister  plenipoten 
tiary  at  Paris  and  the  French  government,  will  speedily  enable 
Congress  to  decide,  with  greater  advantage,  on  the  course  due  to 
the  rights,  the  interests,  and  the  honor  of  our  country. 

Washington  June  I.  1812.  JAMES    MADISON. 


THE  COMMITTEE  ON  FOREIGN  RELATIONS, 

TO  WHOM  WAS  REFERRED  THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT    OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
OF    THE   1ST  OF    JUNE,  1812 

KEPOKT— 

That  after  the  experience  which  the  United  States  have 
had  of  the  great  injustice  of  the  British  government  towards 
them,  exemplified  by  so  many  acts  of  violence  and  oppression,  it 
will  be  more  difficult  to  justify  to  the  impartial  world  their 
patient  forbearance,  than  the  measure^  to  which  it  has  become 
necessary  to  resort,  to  avenge  the  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the 
rights  and  honor  of  the  nation.  Your  committee  are  happy  to 
observe,  on  a  dispassionate  view  of  the  conduct  of^the  United 
States,  that  they  see  in  it  no  cause  for  censure. 

If  a  long  forbearance  under  injuries  ought  ever  to  be  consi 
dered  a  virtue  in  any  nation,  it  is  one  which  peculiarly  bec%nes 
the  United  States.  No  people  ever  had  stronger  motives  to 
cherish  peace  :  none  have  ever  cherished  it  with  greater  sinceritv 
and  zeal. 

But  the  period  has  now  arrived,  when  the  United  States  must 
support  their  character  and  station  among  the  nations  of  tJ 
earth,  or  submit  to  the  most  shameful  degradation.  Forbearance 
has  ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  War  on  the  one  side,  and  peace  on 
the  other,  is  a  situation  as  ruinous  as  it  is  disgraceful.  The  mad 
ambition,  the  lust  of  power,  and  commercial  avarice  of  Great 
Britain,  arrogating  to  herself  the  complete  dominion  of  the 
ocean,  and  exercising  over  it  an  unbounded  and  lawless  tyranny, 
have  left  to  neutral  nations  an  alternative  only,  between  the 
xxiv 


REPORT.  XXV 

bare  surrender  of  their  rights,  and  a  manly  vindication  of  them. 
Happily  for  the  United  States,  their  destiny,  iinder  the  aid  of 
Heaven,  is  in  their  own  hands.  The  crisis  is  formidable  only 
by  their  love  of  peace.  As  soon  as  it  becomes  a  duty  to  relin 
quish  that  situation,  danger  disappears.  They  have  suffered  no 
wrongs,  they  have  received  no  insults,  however  great,  for  which 
they  cannot  obtain  redress. 

More  than  seven  years  have  elapsed,  since  the  commencement 
of  this  system  of  hostile  aggression  by  the  British  Government, 
on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United  States.  The  manner 
of  its  commencement  was  not  less  hostile,  than  the  spirit  with 
which  it  has  been  prosecuted.  The  United  States  have  invari 
ably  done  every  thing  in  their  power  to  preserve  the  relations  of 
friendship  with  Great  Britain.  Of  this  disposition  they  gave  a 
distinguished  proof,  at  the  moment  when  they  were  made  the 
victims  of  an  opposite  policy.  The  wrongs  of  the  last  war  ha  I 
not  been  forgotten  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  on?. 
They  warned  us  of  dangers,  against  which  it  was  sought  to  pro 
vide.  As  early  as  the  year  1804,  the  Minister  of  the  Units:! 
States  at  London  was  instructed,  to  invite  the  British  govern 
ment  to  enter  into  a  negociation  on  all  the  points  on  which  a  col 
lision  might  arise  between  the  two  countries,  in  the  course  of  the 
Avar,  and  to  propose  to  it  an  arrangement  of  their  claims  on  fair 
and  reasonable  conditions.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  A 
negociation  had  commenced  and  was  depending,  and  nothing 
had  occurred  to  excite  a  doubt  that  it  would  not  terminate  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  the  parties.  It  was  at  this  time,  and  under 
these  circumstances,  that  an  attack  was  made,  by  surprise,  on  an 
important  branch  of  the  American  commerce,  which  affected  every 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  involved  many  of  their  citizens 
in  ruin. 

The  commerce  on  which  this  attack  was  so  unexpectedly 
made,  was  between  the  United  States  and  the  colonies  <_f  France, 
Spain,  and  other  enemies  of  Great  Britain.  A  commerce  just  in 


XXVI  REPORT. 

itself;  sanctioned  by  the  example  of  Great  Britain  in  regard  to 
the  trade  with  her  own  colonies ;  sanctioned  by  a  solemn  act  be 
tween  the  two  governments  in  the  last  war ;  and  sanctioned  by 
the  practice  of  the  British  government  in  the  present  war,  more 
than  two  years  having  elapsed,  without  any  interference 
with  it. 

The  injustice  of  this  attack  could  only  be  equalled  by  the  ab 
surdity  of  the  pretext  alleged  for  it.  It  was  pretended  by  the 
British  government,  that  in  case  of  war,  her  enemy  had  no  right 
to  modify  its  colonial  regulations,  so  as  to  mitigate  the  calamities 
of  Avar  to  the  inhabitants  of  its  colonies.  This  pretension  pecu 
liar  to  Great  Britain,  is  utterly  incompatible  with  the  rights  of 
the  sovereignty  in  every  independent  State.  If  we  recur  to  the 
well-established  and  universally  admitted  law  of  nations,  we  shall 
find  no  sanction  to  it,  in  that  venerable  code.  The  sovereignty 
of  every  State  is  co-extensive  with  its  dominions,  and  cannot  be 
abrogated,  or  curtailed  in  rights,  as  to  any  part,  except  by  con 
quest.  Neutral  nations  have  a  right  to  trade  to  every  port  of 
either  belligerent,  which  is  not  legally  blockaded ;  and  in  all 
articles  \vhich  are  not  contraband  of  war.  Such  is  the  absurdity 
of  this  pretension,  that  your  committee  are  aware,  especially 
after  the  able  manner  in  which  it  has  been  heretofore  refuted, 
and  exposed,  that  they  would  offer  an  insult  to  the  understand 
ing  of  the  house,  if  they  enlarged  on  it,  and  if  any  thing  could 
add  to  the  high  sense  of  the  injustice  of  the  British  government 
in  the  transaction,  it  would  be  the  contrast  which  her  conduct 
exhibits  in  regard  to  this  trade,  and  in  regard  to  a  similar  trade 
by  neutrals  with  her  own  colonies.  It  is  known  to  the  world 
that  Great  Britain  regulates  her  own  trade  in  war  and  in  peace, 
at  home  and  in  her  colonies,  as  she  finds  for  her  interest — that  in 
war  she  relaxes  the  restraints  of  her  colonial  system  in  favor  of 
the  colonies,  and  that  it  never  was  suggested  mat  she  had  not  a 
right  to  do  it;  or  that  a  neutral  in  taldng  advantage  of  the  re 
laxation  violated  a  belligerent  right  of  her  enemy.  But  with 


REPORT.  XXvii 

Great  Britain  every  thing  is  lawful.  It  is  only  in  a  trade  with 
her  enemies  that  the  United  States  can  do  wrong.  With  them 
all  trade  is  unlawful. 

In  the  year  1793,  an  attack  was  made  by  the  British  govern 
ment  on  the  same  branch  of  our  neutral  trade,  which  had  nearly 
involved  the  two  countries  in  a  war.  That  difference,  however, 
was  amicably  accommodated.  The  pretension  was  withdrawn 
and  reparation  made  to  the  United  States  for  the  losses  which 
they  had  suffered  by  it.  It  was  fair  to  infer  from  that  arrange 
ment  that  the  commerce  was  deemed  by  the  British  Govern 
ment  lawful,  and  that  it  would  not  be  again  disturbed. 

Had  the  British  government  been  resolved  to  contest  this  trade 
with  neutrals,  it  was  due  to  the  character  of  the  British  nation 
that  the  decision  should  be  made  known  to  the  government  of 
the  United  States.  The  existence  of  a  negociation  which  had 
been  invited  by  our  government,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
differences  by  an  amicable  arrangement  of  their  respective  pre 
tensions,  gave  a  strong  claim  to  the  notification,  while  it  afforded 
the  fairest  opportunity  for  it.  But  a  very  different  policy  ani 
mated  the  then  Cabinet  of  England.  The  liberal  confidence  and 
friendly  overtures  of  the  United  States  were  taken  advantage  of 
to  ensnare  them.  Steady  to  its  purpose  and  inflexibly  hostile 
to  this  country,  the  British  government  calmly  looked  forward 
to  the  moment,  when  it  might  give  the  most  deadly  wround  to 
our  interests.  A  trade  just  in  itself,  which  was  secured  by  so 
many  strong  and  sacred  pledges,  was  considered  safe.  Our  citi 
zens,  with  their  usual  industry  and  enterprise  had  embarked  in 
it  a  vast  proportion  of  their  shipping,  and  of  their  capital,  which 
were  at  sea,  under  no  other  protection  than  the  law  of  nations, 
and  the  confidence  which  they  reposed  in  the  justice  and  friend 
ship  of  the  British  nation.  At  this  period  the  unexpected  blow 
was  given.  Many  of  the  vessels  were  seized,  carried  into  port, 
and  condemned  by  a  tribunal,  which,  while  it  professes  to  respect 
the  law  of  nations,  obeyed  the  mandates  of  its  own  government. 


XXV111  REPORT. 

Hundreds  of  other  vessels  were  driven  from  the  ocean,  and  the 
trade  itself  in  a  great  measure  suppressed.  The  effect  produced 
by  this  attack  on  the  lawful  commerce  of  the  United  States  was 
such  as  might  have  been  expected  from  a  virtuous,  independent 
and  highly  injured  people.  Bat  one  sentiment  pervaded  the 
whole  American  nation.  No  local  interests  were  regarded ;  no 
sordid  motives  felt.  Without  looking  to  the  parts  which  suffered 
most,  the  invasion  of  our  rights  was  considered  a  common  cause, 
and  from  one  extremity  of  our  Union  to  the  other,  was  heard  the 
voice  of  an  united  people,  calling  on  their  government  to  avenge 
their  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the  rights  and  honor  of  their 
country. 

From  this  period  the  British  government  has  gone  on  in  a 
continued  encroachment  on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United 
States,  disregarding  in  its  course,  in  many  instances,  obliga 
tions  which  have  heretofore  been  held  sacred  by  civilized  na 
tions.  -* — -^ 

In  May>vl806^the  whole  coast  of  the  Continent,  from  the  Elbe 
to  Brest  inclusive,  was  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade. 
By  this  act,  the  well-established  principles  of  the  law  of  nations, 
principles  which  have  served  for  ages  as  guides,  and  affixed  the 
boundary  between  the  rights  to  belligerents  and  neutrals,  were 
violated  :  By  the  law  of  nations,  as  recognized  by  Great  Britain 
herself,  no  blockade  is  lawful,  unless  it  be  sustained  by  the  ap 
plication  of  an  adequate  force,  and  that  an  adequate  force  was 
applied  to  this  blockade,  in  its  full  extent,  ought  not  to  be  pre 
tended.  Whether  Great  Britain  was  able  to  maintain,  legally, 
so  extensive  a  blockade,  considering  the  war  in  which  she  is  en 
gaged,  requiring  such  extensive  naval  operations,  is  a  question 
which  it  is  not  necessary  at  this  time  to  examine.  It  is  sufficient 
to  be  known,  that  such  force  was  not  applied,  and  this  is  evident 
from  the  terms  of  the  blockade  itself,  by  which,  comparatively, 
an  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  coast  only  was  declared  to  be  in 
a  state  of  strict  and  rigorous  blockade.  The  objection  to  the  mea- 


REPORT.  XXIX 

sure  is  not  diminished  by  that  circumstance.  If  the  force  was 
not  applied,  the  blockade  was  unlawful,  from  whatever  cause  the 
failure  might  proceed.  The  belligerent  who  institutes  the  block 
ade  cannot  absolve  itself  from  the  obligation  to  apply  the  force 
under  any  pretext  whatever.  For  a  belligerent  to  relax  a  block 
ade,  which  it  could  not  maintain,  it  would  be  a  refinement  in 
injustice,  not  less  insulting  to  the  understanding  than  repugnant 
to  the  law  of  nations.  To  claim  merit  for  the  mitigation  of  an 
evil,  which  the  party  either  had  not  the  power  or  found  it  incon 
venient  to  inflict,  would  be  a  new  mode  of  encroaching  on  neu 
tral  rights.  Your  committee  think  it  just  to  remark  that  this  act 
of  the  British  Government  does  not  appear  to  have  been  adopted 
in  the  sense  in  which  it  has  been  since  construed.  On  consider 
ation  of  all  the  circumstances  attending  the  measure,  and  particu 
larly  the  character  of  the  distinguished  statesman  who  an 
nounced  it,  we  are  persuaded  that  it  was  conceived  in  a  spirit  of 
conciliation  and  intended  to  lead  to  an  accommodation  of  all 
differences  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  His 
death  disappointed  that  hope,  and  the  act  has  since  become  sub 
servient  to  other  purposes.  It  has  been  made  by  his  successors 
a  pretext  for  that  vast  system  of  usurpation,  which  has  so  long- 
oppressed  and  harassed  our  commerce. 

The  next  act  of  the  British  government  which^xlaims  our  at 
tention  is  the  order  of  council  of  January  TyJlSOT^  'by  which 
neutral  powers  are  prohibited  trading  from  one  port  to  another 
of  France  or  her  allies,  or  any  other  country  with  which  Great 
Britain  might  not  freely  trade.  By  this  order  the  pretension  of 
England,  heretofore  claimed  by  every  other  power,  to  prohibit 
neutrals  disposing  of  parts  of  their  cargoes  at  different  ports  of 
the  same  enemy,  is  revived  and  with  vast  accumulation  of  injury. 
Every  enemy,  however  great  the  number  or  distant  from  ea-ch 
other,  is  considered  one,  and  the  like  trade  even  with  powers  at 
peace  with  England,  who  from  motives  of  policy  had  excluded 
or  restrained  her  commerce,  was  also  prohibited.  In  this  act  the 


XXX  REPORT. 

British  government  evidently  disclaimed  all  regard  for  neutral 
rights.  Aware  that  the  measures  authorized  by  it  could  find  no 
pretext  in  any  belligerent  right,  none  was  urged.  To  prohibit 
the  sale  of  our  produce,  consisting  of  innocent  articles  at  any 
port  of  a  belligerent,  not  blockaded,  to  consider  every  belligerent 
as  one,  and  subject  neutrals  to  the  same  restraints  with  all,  as  if 
there  was  but  one,  were  bold  encroachments.  But  to  restrain  or 
in  any  manner  interfere  with  our  commerce  with  neutral  nations 
with  whom  Great  Britain  was  at  peace,  and  against  whom  she 
had  no  justifiable  cause  of  war,  for  the  sole  reason,  that  they  re 
strained  or  excluded  from  their  ports  her*  commerce,  was  utterly 
incompatible  with  the  pacific  relations  subsisting  between  the 
two  countries. 

We  proceed  to  bring  into  view  the  British  order  in  Council  of 
November  11%  1807,  which  superseded  every  other  order,  and 
consummated  thittrsystem  of  hostility  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  which  has  been  since  so  steadily  pursued.  By  this 
order  all  France  and  her  allies  and  every  other  country  at  war 
with  Great  Britain,  01  with  which  she  was  not  at  war,  from  which 
the  British  flag  was  excluded  and  all  the  colonies  of  her  enemies, 
were  subjected  to  the  same  restrictions  as  if  they  were  actually 
blockaded  in  the  most  strict  and  rigorous  manner,  and  all  trade 
in  articles  the  produce  and  manufacture  of  the  said  countries  and 
colonies  and  the  vessels  engaged  in  it  were  subjected  to  capture 
and  condemnation  as  lawful  prize.  To  this  order  certain  ex 
ceptions  were  made  which  we  forbear  to  notice,  because  they 
were  not  adopted  from  a  regard  to  neutral  rights,  but  were  dic 
tated  by  policy  to  promote  the  commerce  of  England,  and  so  far 
as  they  related  to  neutral  powers,  were  said  to  emanate  from  the 
clemency  of  the  British  Government. 

It  would  be  superfluous  in  your  committee  to  state,  that  by 

this  order  the  British  government  declared  direct  and  positive 

war  against  the  United  States.     The  dominion  of  the  ocean  was 

1  completely  usurped  by  it,  all  commerce -forbidden,   and  every 


REPORT.  XXXI 

flag  driven  from  it,  or  subjected  to  capture  and  condemnation, 
which  did  not  subserve  the  policy  of  the  British  government  by 
paying  it  a  tribute,  and  sailing  under  its  sanction.  From  this 
period  the  United  States  have  incurred  the  heaviest  losses  and 
most  mortifying  humiliations.  They  have  borne  the  calamities 
of  war  without  retorting  them  on  its  authors.* 

So  far  your  committee  has  presented  to  the  view  of  the  house 
the  aggressions  which  have  been  committed  under  the  authority 
of  the  British  government  on  the  commerce  of  the  United  States. 
We  will  now  proceed  to  other  wrongs  which  have  been  still 
more  severely  felt.  Among  these  is  the  impressment  of  our  sea 
men,  a  practice  which  has  been  unceasingly  maintained  by  Great 
Britain  in  the  wars  to  which  she  has  been  a  party  since  our  re 
volution.  Your  committee  cannot  convey  in  adequate  terms  the 
deep  sense  which  they  entertain  of  the  injustice  and  oppression 
of  this  proceeding.  Under  the  pretext  of  impressing  British  sea 
men,  our  fellow-citizens  are  seized  in  British  ports,  on  the  high 
seas,  and  in  every  other  quarter  to  which  the  British  power  ex 
tends,  are  taken  on  board  British  men-of-war  and  compelled  to 
serve  there  as  British  subjects.  In  this  mode  our  citizens  are 
wantonly  snatched  from  their  country  and  their  families,  de 
prived  of  their  liberty,  and  doomed  to  an  ignominious  and 
slavish  bondage,  compelled  to  fight  the  battles  of  a  foreign  coun 
try,  and  often  to  perish  in  them.  Our  flag  has  given  them  no 
protection  ;  it  has  been  unceasingly  violated,  and  our  vessels  ex 
posed  to  danger  by  the  loss  of  the  men  taken  from  them.  Your 
committee  need  not  remark  that  while  the  practice  is  continued, 
it  is  impossible  for  the  United  States  to  consider  themselves  an 
independent  nation.  Every  new  case  is  a  new  proof  of  their 
degradation.  Its  continuance  is  the  more  unjustifiable  because 
the  United  States  have  repeatedly  proposed  to  the  British 
government  an  arrangement  which  would  secure  to  it  the  con 
trol  of  its  own  people.  An  exemption  of  the  citizens  of  the 


XXX11  REPORT . 

United  States  from  this  degrading  oppression,  and  their  flag  from 
violation,  is  all  that  they  have  sought. 

The  lawless  waste  of  our  trade,  and  equally  unlawful  impress 
ment  of  our  seamen,  have  been  much  aggravated  by  the  insults 
and  indignities  attending  them.  Under  the  pretext  of  block- 
/ading  the  ports  arid  harbors  of  France  and  her  allies,  British 
/squadrons  have  been  stationed  on  our  own  coast,  to  watch  and  an- 
j  iioy  our  own  trade.  To  give  effect  to  the  blockade  of  European 
ports,  the  ports  and  harbors  of  the  United  States  have  been 
blockaded.  In  executing  these  orders  of  the  British  govern 
ment,  or  in  obeying  the  spirit  which  was  known  to  animate  it, 
the  commanders  of  these  squadrons  have  encroached  on  our  ju 
risdiction,  seized  our  vessels,  and  carried  into  effect  impressments 
within  our  limits,  and  done  other  acts  of  great  injustice,  violence 
and  oppression.  The  United  States  have  seen  with  mingled 
indignation  and  surprise,  that  these  acts,  instead  of  procuring 
to  the  perpetrators  the  punishment  due  to  their  crimes,  have 
not  failed  to  recommend  them  to  the  favor  of  their  govern 
ment. 

Whether  the  British  government  has  contributed  by  active 
measures  to  excite  against  us  the  hostility  of  the  savage  tribes  on 
our  frontiers,  your  committee  are  not  disposed  to  occupy  much 
time  in  investigating.  Certain  indications  of  general  notoriety 
may  supply  the  place  of  authentic  documents ;  though,  these 
have  not  been  wanting  to  establish  the  fact  in  some  instances. 
It  is  known  that  symptoms  of  British  hostility  towards  the 
United  States,  have  never  failed  to  produce  corresponding  symp 
toms  among  those  tribes.  It  is  also  well  known  that  on  all  such 
occasions,  abundant  supplies  of  the  ordinary  munitions  of  war 
have  been  afforded  by  the  agents  of  British  commercial  compa 
nies,  and  even  from  British  garrisons,  wherewith  they  were  en 
abled  to  commence  that  system  of  savage  warfare  on  our  fron 
tiers,  which  has  been  at  all  times  indiscriminate  in  its  ef- 


REPORT.  XXxiil 

fects  on  all  ages,  sexes  and  conditions,  and  so  revolting  to  hu 
manity. 

Your  committee  would  be  much  gratified  if  they  could  clos3 
here  the  details  of  British  wrongs  ;  but  it  is  their  duty  to  recite 
another  act  of  still  greater  malignity,  than  any  of  those  which 
have  been  already  brought  to  your  view.  The  attempt  to  dis 
member  our  union,  tvnd  overthrow  our  excellent  constitution,  by 
a <£ecret jmission,  the  object  of  which  was  to  foment  discontents, 
and  e^ile_  insurrection  against  the  constituted  authorities  and 
laws  of  the  nation,  as  lately  disclosed  by  the  agent  employed  in 
it,  affords  full  proof  that  there  is  no  bound  to  the  hostility  of 
the  British  government  towards  the  United  States ;  no  act, 
however  unjustifiable,  which  it  would  not  commit  to  accom 
plish  their  ruin.  This  attempt  excites  the  greater  horror  from 
the  consideration  that  it  was  made  while  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain  were  at  peace,  and  an  amicable  negociation  was 
depending  between  them  for  the  accommodation  of  their  differ 
ences  through  public  ministers  regularly  authorized  for  the 
purpose. 

The  United  States  have  beheld,  with  unexampled  forbear 
ance,  this  continued  series  of  hostile  encroachments  on  their 
rights  and  interests,  in  the  hope  that,  yielding  to  the  force  of 
friendly  remonstrances,  often  repeated,  the  British  government 
might  adopt  a  more  just  policy  towards  them ;  but  that  hope  n© 
longer  exists.  They  have  also  weighed  impartially  the  reasons 
which  have  been  urged  by  the  British  government  in  vindication 
of  these  encroachments,  and  found  in  them  neither  justification 
or  apology. 

The  British  government  has  alleged,  in  vindication  of  the  or 
ders  in  council,  that  they  were  resorted  to  as  a  retaliation  on 
France,  for  similar  aggressions  committed  by  her  on  our  neutral 
trade  with  the  British  dominions.  But  how  has  this  plea  been 
supported  ?  The  dates  of  British  and  French  aggressions  are 
well  known  to  the  world.  Their  origin  and  progress  have  been 


XXXIV  REPORT. 

marked  with  too  wide  and  destructive  a  waste  of  the  property 
of  our  fellow-citizens,  to  have  been  forgotfx  n.  The  decree  of  Ber 
lin  of  Nov.  21st,  1806,  was  the  first  aggression  of  France  in  the 
present  war.  Eighteen  months  had  then  elapsed,  after  the  at 
tack  made  by  Great  Britain  on  our  neutral  trade  with  the  colo 
nies  of  France  and  her  allies,  and  six  months  from  the  date  of 
the  proclamation  of  May,  1806.  Even  oa.  the  7th  of  January, 
1807,  the  date  of  the  first  British  order  in  council,  so  short  a 
term  had  elapsed,  after  the  Berlin  decree,  that  it  was  hardly  pos 
sible  that  the  intelligence  of  it  should  have  reached  the  United 
States.  A  retaliation,  which  is  to  produce  its  effect  by  operating 
on  a  neutral  power,  ought  not  to  be  resorted  to,  till  the  neutral 
had  justified  it  by  a  culpable  acquiescence  in  the  unlawful  act  of 
the  other  belligerent.  It  ought  to  be  delayed  until  after  sufficient 
time  had  been  allowed  to  the  neutral  to  remonstrate  against  the 
measure  complained  of,  to  receive  an  answer,  and  to  act  on  it, 
which  had  not  been  done  in  the  present  instance  ;  and  when  the 
order  of  November  llth  was  issued,  it  is  well  known  that  a  min 
ister  of  France  had  declared  to  the  Ministc  c  Plenipotentiary  of 
the  United  States  at  Paris,  that  it  was  not  intended  that  the  de 
cree  of  Berlin  should  apply  to  the  United  States.  It  is  equally 
well  known,  that  no  American  vessel  had  then  been  condemned 
under  it,  or  seizure  been  made,  with  which  the  British  govern 
ment  was  acquainted.  The  facts  prove  ineontestibly,  that  the 
measures  of  France,  however  unjustifiable  in  themselves,  were 
nothing  more  than  a  pretext  for  those  of  England.  And  of  the 
insufficiency  of  that  pretext,  ample  proof  liaa  already  been  afford 
ed  by  the  British  government  itself,  and  in  the  inost  impressive 
form. '  Although  it  was  declared  that  the  orders  in  council  were 
retaliatory  on  France  for  her  decrees,  it  was  also  declared,  and  in 
the  orders  themselves,  that  owing  to  the  superiority  of  the  Brit 
ish  navy,  by  v/blch  the  fleets  of  France  and  her  allies  were  con 
fined  within  their  own  ports,  the  French  decrees  were  cr  nsklered 
only  as  empty  tbzcjits 


REPORT.  XXXV 

It  is  no  justification  of  the  wrongs  of  one  power,  that  the  like 
were  committed  by  another  ;  nor  ought  the  fact,  if  true,  to  have 
been  urged  by  either,  as  it  could  afford  no  proof  of  its  love  of 
justice,  of  its  magnanimity,  or  even  of  its  courage.  It  is  more 
worthy  the  government  of  a  great  nation  to  relieve  than  to  as 
sail  the  injured.  Nor  can  a  repetition  of  the  wrongs  by  another 
power  repair  the  violated  rights,  or  wounded  honor,  of  the  in 
jured  party.  An  utter  inability  alone  to  resist,  would  justify  a 
quiet  surrender  of  our  rights,  and  degrading  submission  to  the 
will  of  others.  To  that  condition  the  United  States  are  not  re 
duced,  nor  do  they  fear  it.  That  they  ever  consented  to  discuss 
with  either  power  the  misconduct  of  the  other,  is  a  proof  of  their 
love  of  peace,  of  their  moderation,  and  of  the  hope  which  they 
still  indulged,  that  friendly  appeals  to  just  and  generous  senti 
ment,  would  not  be  made  to  them  in  vain.  But  the  motive  was 
mistaken,  if  their  forbearance  was  imputed,  either  to  the  want  of 
a  just  sensibility  to  their  wrongs,  or  of  a  determination,  if  suita 
ble  redress  was  not  obtained,  to  resent  them.  The  time  has  now 
arrived  when  this  system  of  reasoning  must  cease.  It  would  be 
insulting  to  repeat  it.  It  would  be  degrading  to  hear  it.  The 
United  States  must  act  as  an  independent  nation,  and  assert  their 
rights  and  avenge  their  wrongs,  according  to  their  own  estimate 
of  them,  with  the  party  who  commits  them,  holding  it  re 
sponsible  for  its  own  misdeeds,  unmitigated  by  those  of 
another. 

For  the  difference  made  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  by 
the  application  of  the  non-importation  act  against  England  only, 
the  motive  has  been  already  too  often  explained,  and  is  too  well 
known  to  require  further  illustration.  In  the  commercial  re 
strictions  to  which  the  United  States  resorted  as  an  evidence  of 
their  sensibility,  and  a  mild  retaliation  of  their  wrongs,  they  in 
variably  placed  both  powers  on  the  same  footing,  holding  to  each 
in  respect  to  itself,  the  same  accommodation,  in  case  it  accepted 
the  condition  offered,  and  in  respect  to  the  other,  the  same  re- 


XXXVI  REPORT. 

straint,  if  it  refused.  Had  the  British  government  confirmed  the 
arrangement,  which  was  entered  into  with  the  British  Minister 
in  1809,  and  France  maintained  her  decrees,  with  France  would 
the  United  States  have  had  to  resist,  with  the  firmness  belonging 
to  their  character,  the  continued  violation  of  their  rights  ?  The 
committee  do  not  hesitate  to  declare,  that  France  has  greatly  in 
jured  the  United  States,  and  that  satisfactory  reparation  has  not 
yet  been  made  for  many  of  those  injuries.  But  that  is  a  concern 
which  the  United  States  will  look  to  and  settle  for  themselves. 
The  high  character  of  the  American  people,  is  a  sufficient  pledge 
to  the  world,  that  they  will  not  fail  to  settle  it,  on  conditions 
which  they  have  a  right  to  claim. 

More  recently,  the  true  policy  of  the  British  government 
towards  the  United  States  has  been  completely  unfolded.  It 
has  been  publicly  declared  by  those  in  power,  that  the  orders  in 
council  should  not  be  repealed,  until  the  French  government 
had  revoked  all  its  internal  restraints  on  the  British  commerce, 
and  that  the  trade  of  the  United  States  with  France  and  her 
allies,  should  be  prohibited  until  Great  Britain  was  also  allowed 
to  trade  with  them.  By  this  declaration,  it  appears,  that  to 
satisfy  the  pretensions  of  the  British  government,  the  United 
States  must  join  Great  Britain  in  the  war  with  France,  and  prose 
cute  the  war,  until  France  should  be  subdued,  for  without  her 
subjugation,  it  were  in  vain  to  presume  on  such  a  concession. 
The  hostility  of  the  British  government  to  these  states  has  been 
still  further  disclosed.  It  has  been  made  manifest  that  the 
United  States  are  considered  by  it  as  the  commercial  rival  of 
/Great  Britain,  and  that  their  prosperity  and  growth  are  incom- 
;  patible  with  her  welfare.  When  all  these  circumstances  are 
taken  into  consideration,  it  is  impossible  for  your  committee  to 
loubt  the  motives  which  have  governed  the  British  minis 
try  in  all  its  measures  towards  the  United  States  since  the 
year  1805.  Equally  is  it  impossible  to  doubt,  longer,  the  course 
which  the  United  States  ought  to  pursue  towards  Great  Britain. 


REPORT.  XXXVU 

From  this  view  of  the  multiplied. wrongs  of  the  British  govern 
ment,  since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  it  must  be 
evident  to  the  impartial  world,  that  the  contest  which  is  now 
forced  on  the  United  States,  is  radically  a  contest  for  their 
sovereignty  and  independence.  Your  committee  will  not  en 
large  on  any  of  the  injuries,  however  great;  which  have  had  a 
transitory  effect.  They  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House 
to  those  of  a  parliamentary  nature  only,  which  intrench  so  deeply 
on  our  most  important  rights,  and  wound  so  extensively  and 
vitally  our  best  interests,  as  could  not  fail  to  deprive  the  United 
States  of  the  principal  advantages  of  their  revolution,  if  submitted 
to.  The  control  of  our  commerce  by  Great  Britain,  in  regulating 
at  pleasure,  and  expelling  it  almost  from  the  ocean  ;  the  oppres 
sive  manner  in  which  these  regulations  have  been  carried  into 
effect  by  seizing  and  confiscating  such  of  our  vessels,  with  their 
cargoes,  as  were  said  to  have  violated  her  edicts,  often  without 
previous  warning  of  their  danger ;  the  impressment  of  our  citi 
zens  from  on  board  our  own  vessels,  on  the  high  seas,  and  else 
where,  and  holding  them  in  bondage  until  it  suited  the  con 
venience  of  these  oppressors  to  deliver  them  up,  are  encroach 
ments  of  that  high  and  dangerous  tendency  which  could  not  fail 
to  produce  that  pernicious  effect,  nor  would  those  be  the  only 
consequences  that  would  result  from  it.  The  British  govern 
ment  might  for  a  while  be  satisfied  with  the  ascendency  thus 
gained  over  us,  but  its  pretensions  would  soon  increase.  The 
proof,  which  so  complete  and  disgraceful  a  submission  to  ito 
authority  would  afford  of  our  degeneracy,  could  not  fail  to  in 
spire  confidence,  that  there  was  no  limit  to  which  its  usurpations 
and  our  degradations  might  not  be  carried. 

Your  committee,  believing  that  the  freeborn  §  !  morica 

are  worthy  to  enjoy  the  liberty  which  their  j^pfeased  at 

the  price  of  much  blood  and  treasur;  K/measures 

adopted  by  Great  Britain,  a  course  comn^^H        ^persisted  in 
which  mio-lit  lead  to  a  lo.-s  of  national  ;imraoW  and  indepen- 


XXXV111  DECLARATION    OF    WAR. 

dence,  feel  no  hesitation  in  advising  resistance  by  force,  in  which 
the  Americans  of  the  present  day  will  prove  to  the  enemy  and 
to  the  world,  that  we  have  not  only  inherited  that  liberty 
which  our  fathers  gave  us,  but  also  the  will  and  power  to 
maintain  it.  Belying  on  the  patriotism  of  the  nation,  and  con 
fidently  trusting  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts  will  go  with  us  to 
battle  in  a  righteous  cause,  and  crown  our  efforts  with  suc 
cess — your  committee  recommend  an  immediate  appeal  to 
AEMS!  JOHN  C.  CALHOUN,  Chairman. 

I'OIU-ER,  HARPER,  ) 

GRUNDY,  REY,  ( „ 

SMILIE,  DESHA,      (  "*««"««. 

RANDOLPH,  SAVER,      ) 

AN  ACT  Declaring  War  between  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  Dependencies  thereof,  and  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  their  Territories. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  /Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled,  That  "WAE  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  between  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  dependencies 
thereof,  and  the  United  States  of  America  and  their  territories ; 
and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized  to  use  the  whole  land  and  naval  force  of  the  United 
States,  to  carry  the  same  into  effect,  and  to  issue  to  private-armed 
vessels  of  the  United  States  commissions,  orjetters -of- marque, 
and  general  reprisals,  in  such  form  as  he  shall  think  proper, 
and  under  the  seal  of  the  United  States,  against  the  vessels, 
goods  and  effects  of  the  government  of  the  same  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  of  the  subjects 
thereof. 

Approved,  JAMES  MADISON. 

June  18$,  1812. 

On  the  final  passage  of  the  act  in  the  Senate,  the  vote  was  19 
to  13  :  in  the  House,  79  to  49. 


BY   THE    PRESIDENT    OF  THE    UNITED    STATES  OF 
;   AMERICA. 

A     PROCLAMATION. 

WHEKEAS  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the 
constituted  authority  vested  in  them,  have  declared  by  their  act, 
bearing  date  the  18th  day  of  the  present  month,  that  war  exists 
between  the  United  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and 
the  dependencies  thereof,  and  the  United  States  of  America  and 
their  territories:  Now  therefore,  I,  James  Madison,  President 
of -the  United  States  of  America,  do  hereby  proclaim  the  same 
to  all  whom  it  may  concern :  and  I  do  specially  enjoin  on  all 
persons  holding  offices,  civil  or  military,  under  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  that  they  be  vigilant  and  zealous,  in  discharg 
ing  the  duties  respectively  incident  thereto.  And  I  do  moreover 
exhort  all  the  good  people  of  the  United  States,  as  they  love 
their  country ;  as  they  value  the  precious  heritage  derived  from 
the  virtue  and  valor  of  their  fathers ;  as  they  feel  the  wrongs 
which  have  forced  on  them  the  last  resort  of  injured  nations; 
and  as  they  consult  the  best  means,  under  the  blessing  of  Divine 
Providence,  of  abridging  its  calamities ;  that  they  exert  them 
selves  in  preserving  order,  in  promoting  concord,  and  in  main 
taining  the  authority  and  the  efficacy  of  the  laws,  and  in  sup 
porting  and  invigorating  all  the  measures  which  may  be  adopted 
by  the  constituted  authorities,  for  obtaining  a  speedy,  a  just,  and 
an  honorable  peace. 

(SEAL.) 

"— '^^  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed  to  these 
presents. 

(xxxix; 


xl  MR.  ADAMS'  OPINION  OF  THE  WAR. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  the  nineteenth  day  of  June, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve,  and  of  the  Indepen 
dence  of  the  United  States  the  thirty-sixth. 

(Signed) 

By  the  President,  % 

JAMES  MADISOK 

(Signed)  JAMES  MONBOE, 

Secretary  of  State. 

I  insert  here  the  following  letter  of  the  venerable  patriot  John 
Adams,  former  President  of  the  United  States,  to  his  friend 
Elkenah  "Watson,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  and  think  his  opinion  of  the 
war  is  deserving  the  respectful  consideration  of  every  dispassion 
ate  American. 

"  Quincy,  July  6/7?,  1812. 

"  DEAR  SIR, — I  have  received  the  favor  of  your  letter  of  the 
28th  of  last  month,  which  has  revived  the  recollection  of  our 
former  acquaintance  in  France,  England  and  Holland,  as  well 
as  in  several  parts  of  our  own  country.  I  think  with  you,  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  considerate  man  to  support  the  national 
authorities,  in  whose  hands  soever  they  may  be ;  though  I  will 
not  say  whatever  their  measures  may  be. 

"  To  your  allusion  to  the  war,  I  have  nothing  to  say  but  that 
it  was  with  surprise  that  I  hear  it  pronounced,  not  only  by  news 
papers,  but  by  persons  in  authority,  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  and 
political  and  military,  that  it  is  an  unjust  and  unnecessary  war, 
that  the  declaration  of  it  was  altogether  unexpected,  etc. 

"  How  it  is  possible  that  a  rational,  asocial,  or  a  moral  crea 
ture  can  say  that  the  war  is  unjust,  is  to  me  utterly  incompre 
hensible. 

"How  it   can  be  said  to   be   unnecessary    is  very  rnysteri- 


MR.  ADAMS'  OPINION  OF  THE  WAR.  xli 

ous.     I  have  thought  it  both  just  and  necessary,  for  five  or  six 
years. 

"  How  it  can  be  said  to  be  unexpected,  is  another  wonder ;  I 
have  expected  it  for  more  than  five  and  twenty  years,  and  have 
had  great  reason  to  be  thankful  that  it  has  been  postponed  so 
long.  I  saw  such  a  spirit  in  the  British  Islands,  when  I  resided 
in  France,  in  Holland,  and  in  England  itself,  that  I  expected 
another  war  much  sooner  than  it  has  happened.  I  was  so  im 
pressed  with  the  idea,  that  I  expressed  to  Lord  Lansdowne  (for 
merly  Lord  Shelburne),  an  apprehension  that  his  lordship  would 
live  long  enough  to  be  obliged  to  make,  and  that  I  should  live 
long  enough  to  see  another  peace  made  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States  of  America.  His  lordship  did  not  live 
long  enough  to  make  the  peace,  and  I  shall  not  probably  live  to 
see  it ;  but  I  have  lived  to  see  the  war  that  must  be  followed  by 
a  peace,  if  the  war  is  not  eternal. 

"  Our  Agricultural  Societies  may  not  be  so  much  regarded, 
but  the  great  interest  of  agriculture  will  not  be  diminished  by 
the  war.  Manufactures  will  be  promoted. 

"  The  Minister  of  St.  Petersburg  will  be  informed  of  your 
opinion  of  the  utility  of  some  bushels  of  Siberian  wheat,  not 
kiln  dried.' 

"  Yours  truly, 

"JOHN  ADAMS." 


TARDY     JUSTICE. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  BOSTON"  CHRONICLE. 

"  The  American  seamen  who  were  taken  from  the  frigate  Che 
sapeake,  on  the  22d  June,  1807,  by  the  British  ship-of-war 
Leopard,  were  this  day,  Saturday,  June  13,  1812,  restored  to  the 
same  ship  in  the  harbor  of  Boston. 

"  They  were  conducted  on  board  by  Lieutenant  Simpson,  a  Bri 
tish  officer,  and  received  at  the  gang-way  by  Lieutenant  Wilkin 
son,  of  the  Chesapeake,  who  made  the  following  pertinent 
address : 

"  SIR, — I  am  commanded  by  Commodore  Bainbridge  to  receive 
these  two  American  seamen,  on  the  very  deck  from  which  they 
were  wantonly  taken  in  time  of  peace,  by  a  vessel  of  your  na 
tion,  of  superior  force.'  Midshipman  Saunders  conducted  the 
men  to  Commodore  Bainbridge,  upon  the  quarter-deck — the 
Commodore  received  them  with  these  appropriate  and  truly 
American  observations.  '  My  lads  I  am  glad  to  see  you — from 
this  deck  you  were  taken  by  British  outrage — for  your  return  to 
it  you  owe  gratitude  to  the  government  of  your  country.  Your 
country  now  offers  you  an  opportunity  to  revenge  your  wrongs ; 
and  I  cannot  doubt  but  that  you  will  be  desirous  of  doing  so 
on  board  of  this  very  ship.  I  trust  the  flag  that  flies  on  board 
of  her,  shall  gloriously  defend  you  in  future.'  Three  cheers 
were  given  by  a  numerous  company  of  citizens  and  seamen,  as 
sembled  to  witness  the  interesting  transaction. 

"There  were  four  men  taken  out  of  the  Chesapeake ;  one,  they 
tell  us,  has  since  died,  two  they  now  restore,  and  one  they  hung 
at  Halifax." 

xlii 


INTRODUCTION. 

I  COMMENCE  my  plea,  soliciting  public  approbation  in 
favor  of  Privateersmen,  and  for  those  who  served  in 
private  armed  vessels  in  the  war  of  1812,  1813,  and 
1814.  And  in  order  to  show  the  state  of  public  opinion 
at  that  period,  I  will  here  insert  an  article,  written  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  dated  July  the  4th,  1812  : 

' '  What  is  war  ?  It  is  simply  a  contest  between  nations,  of 
trying  which  can  do  the  other  the  most  harm.  Who  carries 
on  the  war  ?  Armies  are  formed  and  Navies  manned  by 
individuals.  How  is  a  battle  gained  ?  By  the  death  of 
individuals.  What  produces  peace  ?  The  distress  of 
individuals.  What  difference  to  the  sufferer  is  it  that 
his  property  is  taken  by  a  national  or  private  armed 
vessel  ?  Did  our  merchants,  who  have  lost  nine  hun 
dred  and  seventeen  vessels  by  British  captures,  feel  any 
gratification  that  the  most  of  them  were  taken  by  His 
Majesty?s  men-of-war  ?  Were  the  spoils  less  rigidly  ex 
acted  by  a  seventy-four  gun  ship  than  by  a  privateer  of 
four  guns  ;  and  were  not  all  equally  condemned  ?  War, 
whether  on  land  or  sea,  is  constituted  of  acts  of  violence 
on  the  persons  and  property  of  individuals  ;  and  excess 
of  violence  is  the  grand  cause  that  brings  about  a  peace. 
One  man  fights  for  wages  paid  him  by  the  government, 
or  a  patriotic  zeal  for  the  defence  of  his  country  ;  an- 

(xliii) 


xliv  INTRODUCTION. 

other,  duly  authorized,  and  giving  the  proper  pledges 
for  his  good  conduct,  undertakes  to  pay  himself  at  the 
expense  of  the  foe,  and  serve  his  country  as  effectually 
as  the  former,  and  government  drawing  all  its  supplies 
from  the  people,  is,  in  reality,  as  much  affected  by  the 
losses  of  the  one  as  the  other,  the  efficacy  of  its  measures 
depending  upon  the  energies  and  resources  of  the 
whole.  In  the  United  States,  every  possible  encourage 
ment  should  be  given  to  privateering  in  time  of  war 
with  a  commercial  nation.  We  have  tens  of  thousands 
of  seamen  that  without  it  would  be  destitute  of  the 
means  of  support,  and  useless  to  their  country.  Our 
national  ships  are  too  few  in  number  to  give  employ 
ment  to  a  twentieth  part  of  them,  or  retaliate  the  acts 
of  the  enemy.  But  by  licensing  private  armed  vessels, 
the  whole  naval  force  of  the  nation  is  truly  brought  to 
bear  on  the  foe,  and  while  the  contest  lasts,  that  it  may 
have  the  speedier  termination,  let  every  individual 
contribute  his  mite,  in  the  best  way  he  can,  to  dis 
tress  and  harass  the  enemy,  and  compel  him  to 
peace.  " 

To  arrive  at  the  odium  entertained  against  privateer 
ing  by  the  honest  and  virtuous  part  of  the  world,  I  must 
carry  my  readers  back  to  the  piratical  age  of  the  reck 
less  buccaneers,  which  continued  for  a  period  of  twenty 
or  thirty  years,  say  from  1610  to  1640. 

Although  these  piratical  vessels  occasionally  infested 
almost  every  sea,  their  principal  resorts  were  along  the 
coast  of  the  Spanish  Main,  and  araong  the  West  India 
Islands. 


INTRODUCTION. 

These  desperate  buccaneers  committed  all  sorts  of 
barbarous  acts,  and  were,  in  fact,  a  terror  to  the  com 
mercial  portion  of  all  civilized  nations.  They  spared 
neither  friend  nor  foe,  and  were  alike  regardless  of  age 
or  sex. 

Their  only  object  was  robbery  and  plunder,  and  by 
these  means  to  enrich  themselves,  at  the  expense  of  the 
honest  and  industrious  portion  of  mankind.  These  ruth 
less  bravadoes,  by  the  habitual  practice  of  rapine  and 
murder,  became  so  hardened  in  sin  and  crime,  that  they 
seemed  to  riot  and  rejoice  over  the  sufferings  of  their 
innocent  victims. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  a  strong  and  deep  feeling  of 
enmity  should  still  continue  to  be  felt  against  privateer 
ing  for  centuries  after  it  was  abolished.  In  Europe, 
where  a  large  portion  of  every  community  is  unedu 
cated,  it  requires  many  long  years  to  eradicate  a  deep- 
rooted  prejudice  from  among  the  masses,  long  after  the 
enlightened  classes  are  convinced  that  such  transactions 
are  no  longer  in  existence.  Even  in  our  own  intelligent 
country,  there  exists  a  strong  prejudice  against  priva 
teering,  from  the  same  cause  as  before  stated,  namely, 
by  associating  it  with  the  by-gone  days  of  the  reckless 
buccaneers.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  our  lato 
war  with  England  has  created  a  more  favorable  feeling 
on  this  subject,  and  that  a  more  liberal  sentiment  will 
be  cherished  towards  privateersmen,  and  to  those  who 
were  employed  in  private  armed  vessels.  The  Ameri 
can  people  must  be  convinced  that,  in  our  last  war  with 
England,  it  was  carried  on  by  privateers  and  private 


INTRODUCTION. 

armed  vessels  in  a  spirit  of  honorable  warfare,  and  gen 
erally  by  gentlemen  of  high  and  patriotic  sentiments, 
and  in  most  instances  with  marked  humanity,  coupled 
with  acts  of  generosity  and  kindness  toward  their 
avowed  enemy,  and,  as  I  believe,  with  a  sincere  desire  to 
soften  the  rugged  features  of  war. 

It  is  true  that  every  honorable  device  was  practised 
to  cripple  our  enemy,  by  diminishing  his  means  and 
power  to  injure  us,  and  thus  compel  him  to  an  honora 
ble  peace. 

It  must  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  war  on  our 
part  was  strictly  confined  to  the  injury  of  Great  Britain, 
and  that  in  no  instance  was  a  single  neutral  nation 
involved  in  loss  or  insult  by  our  privateers. 

In  this  age  of  traffic  and  moneymaking,  when  patriot 
ism  is  measured  by  dollars  and  cents,  remarks  prejudi 
cial  to  those  who  sailed  in  privateers  and  letters-of- 
marque  are  made  by  some,  without  much  reflection  or 
knowledge  on  the  subject.  Others  assert  that  they 
were  a  mercenary  set  of  desperadoes,  only  bent  on  en 
riching  themselves  with  the  spoils  of  their  adversaries, 
possessing  little  honor,  and  less  patriotism.  Now  if 
there  be  a  single  respectable  individual  possessed  of  this 
opinion,  I  shall  be  happy  to  disabuse  his  mind  on  the 
subject,  for  I  can  assure  him,  that  there  never  was  a 
viler  slander  imputed  to  such  a  noble  class  of  men.  I 
am  happy  to  say  I  was  personally  acquainted  with  scores 
of  the  captains  and  officers,  who  sailed  in  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque,  during  our  war  with  England,  and  am 
confident,  that  a  large  proportion  of  those  who  com- 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlvii 


manded  these  vessels,  as  well  as  their  officers  and  sea 
men,  would  favorably  compare  with  the  same  class  of 
military  men  in  any  army  or  navy  in  the  world. 

The  following  captains  of  privateers  and  letters-of- 
marque  I  knew  personally,  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  some  of  them  I  was  proud  to  acknowledge  as  inti 
mate  friends : 


Vessels. 

Captains. 

Whore  belonging. 

Saratoga, 

Rossie, 
Midas, 

Wooster,     after-    } 
ward    Guy    R.   > 
Champlin,              ) 

Commodore  Barney, 
Chayter, 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 

General  Armstrong, 

Sam.  C.  Reid, 

• 

New  York. 

Brig  Ida, 

Jeremiah  Mantor, 

Boston. 

Rattlesnake, 

David  Maffet, 

Philadelphia. 

Globe, 

John  Murphy, 

Baltimore. 

Scourge, 

Samuel  Nicoll, 

New  York. 

Dolphin, 

W.  S.  Stafford, 

Baltimore. 

American, 

Richardson, 

Baltimore. 

Jack's  Favorite, 

Miller, 

New  York. 

Benj.  Franklin, 

Ingersol. 

New  York. 

I  cannot  at  this  moment,  call  to  mind  many  other 
captains  of  privateers  and  letters~of-marque,  who  figured 
conspicuously  in  the  trying  conflict  for  the  liberty  of 
the  seas. 

All  the  persons  here  enumerated  were  captains  in  the 


xlviii  INTRODUCTION. 

merchant  service,  and  were  consequently  thrown  out 
of  employment  by  the  war,  and  obliged  to  command 
these  vessels,  or  remain  inactive  spectators  on  shore. 
They,  no  doubt,  like  most  other  men,  had  a  double  mo 
tive  in  the  contest,  viz.,  to  be  remunerated  for  their  j>. 
vations,  and  to  serve  their  country  in  distressing  the 
enemy,  who  strove  to  drive  them  off  the  ocean.  Can 
any  man  of  common  sense,  imagine  that  these  worthy 
men  would  risk  their  lives  and  reputation,  for  a  mere 
mercenary  hire,  without  an  ardent  love  of  their  country, 
and  a  desire  to  revenge  themselves  upon  the  tyrants  of 
the  seas,  who  had  insulted  and  abused  the  most  of  them 
for  many  years  ?  On  the  contrary,  they  were,  with 
hardly  an  exception,  a  dashing,  brave  set  of  disinterested 
men,  and  an  honor  to  their  country.  Many  of  their  well- 
fought  battles  and  hair-breadth  .escapes,  will  favor 
ably  compare  with  our  most  brilliant  naval  engage 
ments. 

Contrast  the  relative  inducements  of  the  officers  of 
the  United  States  navy  and  of  the  captains  of  private- 
armed  ships  and  vessels.  The  former  are  cherished  and 
supported  by  the  whole  nation  ;  have  fame  and  honor 
meted  out  for  every  meritorious  act.  If  wounded,  they 
receive  pensions,  and  are  provided  for  in  sickness  and 
old  age.  Now  look  at  the  other  side  of  the  picture  : 
What  had  the  captains  and  officers  of  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque  to  expect  from  their  country  ?  No 
thing  ;  and  from  the  enemy,  nothing  but  hard  knocks, 
prison-ships,  and  free  lodgings  in  Dartmoor.  Notwith 
standing  the  disadvantages  here  enumerated,  we  have 


INTRODUCTION.  xlix 

often  seen  them  engaging  the  enemy's  ships-of-war, 
where  they  had  nothing  to  hope  for  but  revenge  for  past 
injuries,  or  for  the  honor  of  the  flag  under  which  they 
sailed,  and  their  ardent  attachment  to  their  beloved 
country.  In  many  instances  we  have  known  their  pros 
pects  of  a  cruise  broken  up  and  ruined  because  they 
would  not  fly  from  their  haughty  foe  until  they  had  in 
flicted  a  severe  punishment  on  his  boasted  superiority. 
It  is  well  known  to  those  Americans  who  lived 
through  the  war  of  1812,  and  to  all  the  reading  por 
tion  of  our  extensive  country,  that  the  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque  were  the  great  thorn  in  the  side  of 
our  inveterate  enemy,  that  they  harassed  and  annoyed 
their  adversaries  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  yes,  and 
even  at  the  entrance  of  their  own  ports,  in  old  England 
itself.  They  fought  and  captured  ships  and  vessels  off* 
the  North  Cape,  in  the  British  and  Irish  Channels,  on 
the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  in  the  East  and  West 
Indies,  off  the  Capes  of  Good  Hope  and  Horn,  and  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  In  a  word,  they  were  harassing  and 
annoying  British  trade  and  commerce  wherever  a  ship 
could  float,  Yes,  they  took  and  destroyed  millions  of 
property,  and  were,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  happy  instru 
ments  under  God,  in  bringing  about  a  permanent  peace 
with  a  proud,  haughty,  overbearing  nation.  And  now 
is  it  not  astonishing  how  soon  the  services  of  these  brave 
and  gallant  men  are  forgotten,  and  how  lightly  their 
heroic  acts  are  appreciated  by  our  general  government  ? 
While  Congress  has  given  thousands  and  tens  of  thou 
sands  of  broad  acres  to  all  those  individuals  who  fought, 


1  INTRODUCTION. 

or  were  mustered  into  service  in  all  our  wars  since  1790, 
as  a  reward  for  their  services  to  their  country,  not  one 
foot  of  land,  or  any  other  compensation  has  been  given 
to  privateersmen,  and  those  who  served  in  private  armed 
vessels  in  the  war  of  181-2,  or  to  their  widows  and  or 
phan  children. 

No  wonder  that  the  present  generation  does  not  ap 
preciate  their  services,  or  cherish  their  memory  when 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  neglects  to  notice 
their  claims  on  the  nation. 

I  complain  not  at  what  the  government  has  given  to 
all  those  who  have  served  in  any  war  for  their  country's 
honor  or  interest,  but  I  do  complain  of  the  gross  and 
palpable  injustice  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  towards  those  brave  men,  and  their  widows  and 
orphan  children.  Many  of  the  privateersmen,  and  those 
who  served  in  letters-of-marque,  suffered  severely  in 
their  private  fortunes,  many  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  not  a  few  were  confined  in  filthy  English  prisons. 
And,  what  is  the  reply  to  all  their  petitions  ?  Why  for 
sooth,  these  men  were  engaged  in  cruising  for  prize- 
money  and  not  for  the  interest  of  the  country.  That 
assertion  is  not  true,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  a  base  slan 
der  upon  the  good  name  and  fame  of  these  worthy  and 
gallant  .defenders  of  their  country's  rights  and  of  its 
honor  and  glory.  "Tell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in 
the  streets  of  Askelon."  The  writer  of  these  pages  asks 
nothing  for  himself,  for,  thank  God,  he  has,  through  hih 
industry,  prudence,  and  economy,  sufficient  to  live  on 
in  a  modest,  unpretending  way,  and  wishes  it  to  be 


INTRODUCTION.  H 

clearly  understood,  that  this  appeal  is  in  behalf  of  the 
few  remaining  individuals  who  have  survived  the  war, 
the  tempest,  and  the  storm,  and  who  are  now  tottering 
on  the  brink  of  the  grave.  Yes,  it  is  for  them  and  their 
widows  and  orphan  children,  that  I  make  this  strong 
and  last  appeal  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
to  do  justice  to  these  much  injured  men  and  their 
families. 

When  the  peace  was  made  with  England,  the  officers 
of  the  navy  used  to  say  among  themselves,  that  they 
were  looked  upon  by  the  people  as  pillars  in  war,  but 
as  caterpillars  in  peace.  If  such  was  the  case  with  them, 
with  what  redoubled  force  will  it  apply  to  the  Captains 
of  Privateers. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  at  present  to  add  any  more 
on  the  subject  of  the  unrequited  claims  of  privateers- 
men  and  those  who  served  in  private-armed  vessels,  btit 
hope  and  trust  that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
will,  ere  long,  reflect  that  it  is  unwise  and  unjust  to  ex 
clude  those  worthy  and  deserving  patriots  from  an 
equal  participation  in  the  public  bounty,  which  has  been 
so  liberally  bestowed  upon  all  other  classes  of  citizens, 
who  have  served  their  country  in  any  of  its  wars  during 
the  last  sixty-five  years. 

With  these  closing  remarks,  I  will  now  proceed  to 
enumerate  a  few  of  the  many  wrongs  and  abuses  prac 
ticed  upon  our  commerce  and  country  by  British  ships- 
of-war.  for  a  period  of  at  least  six  or  eight  years.  For 
it  is  well  known  that  they  took  and  captured  from  us 
more  than  a  thousand  ships  and  vessels  bound  to  France 


ill  INTRODUCTION. 

and  other  European  countries,  while  we  were  at  peace 
with  them.  And  thus  from  time  to  time  they  continued 
to  heap  insult  upon  insult,  with  their  men  of  war  lying 
at  the  mouths  of  our  harbors,  and  searching  and  detain 
ing  our  merchant  ships  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1806,  off  Sandy  Hook,  the 
frigate  Leander  fired  a  cannon-shot  into  a  little  harm 
less,  unarmed  vessel,  by  which  a  seamen  was  killed,  in 
our  own  waters.  This  created  an  immense  sensation, 
and  every  citizen  throughout  the  United  States  felt  that 
it  was  a  gross  insult  to  the  nation.  Spirited  remon 
strances  were  made  by  our  government,  and  reparation 
was  promised  ;  but  the  resentment  of  the  people  had 
scarcely  time  to  cool  down  from  this  outrage,  when,  in 
about  a  year  afterward,  a  dastardly  attack  was  made 
by  the  two-decked  ship-of-war,  Leopard,  upon  the 
United  States  frigate  Chesapeake,  at  a  period  of  pro 
found  peace,  when,  from  peculiar  causes,  the  latter  ship 
was  in  a  defenceless  state. 

This  cowardly  act  aroused  throughout  the  Union  a 
spirit  of  retaliation,  which  the  government  found  it  dif 
ficult  to  repress.  This  insult,  however,  like  the  one  pre 
ceding  it,  passed  off  without  any  serious  consequences, 
and  it  was  hoped,  by  a  considerable  portion  of  the  peo 
ple,  that  England  would  refrain  from  further  aggressions. 

This  hope,  however,  was  delusive,  and  so  far  from 
making  reparation  for  past  injuries,  the  captains  of  our 
merchant  ships  were  often  ill-treated  and  abused  by  up 
start,  subaltern  officers,  for  daring  to  assert  their  legiti 
mate  rights. 


INTRODUCTION.  liii 

The  longer  we  submitted,  the  more  provoking  the 
British  government  became.  A  large  portion  of  the 
American  people  were  opposed  to  open  warfare  ;  not 
from  a  fear  of  its  ultimate  success,  or  of  the  pecuniary 
losses  and  sacrifices  it  would  necessarily  produce  ;  nor 
from  a  timid  fear  of  meeting  our  adversary  in  fair  and 
open  combat,  but  from  a  religious  and  conscientious  feel 
ing  of  shedding  human  blood,  more  especially  that  of 
the  nation  from  which  we  sprung  •  both  professing 
the  same  religion,  and  speaking  the  same  language. 

It  was,  therefore,  a.  most  perplexing  alternative,  and 
the  question  was,  shall  we  any  longer  submit  to  injury 
and  insult  ? 

We  were  taunted  and  reviled  on  every  side  ;  accused 
of  parsimony  and  cowardice  ;  England  boasting  that  a 
few  broadsides  from  her  "  wooden  walls  "  would  drive 
our  "  paltry,  striped  ,  bun  ting  "  from  the  ocean. 

Our  seamen  were  impressed  by  the  English  in  every 
part  of  the  world  ;  dragged  on  board  of  their  floating 
hells ;  made  to  serve  against  their  will  the  haughty  ty 
rants  placed  over  them,  and  were  often  flogged  for  re 
fusing  to  fight  against  other  nations  with  whom  we  were 
at  peace. 

Many  legitimate  voyages  were  broken  up  and  iiiinel 
loy  their  piratical  cruisers,  simply  because  they  had  the 
power  to  do  it. 

Their  scurrilous  newspapers  never  ceased  to  accuse 
us  of  want  of  spirit,  because  we  would  not  unite  with 
them  in  a  crusade  against  France,  and  the  other  nations 
of  Europe. 


Hv  INTRODUCTION. 

-Our  appeals  for  justice  were  not  listened  to  ;  remon 
strances  and  diplomatic  negotiations  were  found  use 
less.  Non-intercourse  and  embargoes  were  resorted  to, 
in  order  to  prevent  war  ;  but  the  more  reluctant  we 
were  to  engage  in  open  conflict  and  bloodshed,  the  more 
over-bearing  our  adversary  became. 

At  length,  when  every  resource  to  obtain  justice  was 
exhausted,  we  had  no  choice  left  us  but  to  declare  war 
against  our  oppressors,  or  tamely  submit  to  degradation, 
not  only  in  our  own  eyes,  but  in  those  of  the  whole  civ 
ilized  world. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say,  that  I  think  no  one,  with 
a  sound  mind,  and  possessed  of  honorable  feelings, 
will  doubt  that  if  war  is  right  under  any  circum 
stances,  ours  against  England  in  1812  was  a  righteous 
one. 


American   IriWeers. 


(IT) 


THE  AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS. 


CHAPTER     I. 

PREPARATION  FOB  WAR — DISPATCH  PILOT  BOAT  TO  GOTTENBURG —  COMMENCE  WITH 
SMALL  PRIVATEERS  —  SEVERAL  PRIVATEERS  SAIL  FROM  NEW  YORK  —  PRIVATEERS 
FITTING  OUT  FROM  THE  EASTERN  STATES  —  TABLE  OF  PRIVATEERS  BELONGING  TO 
NEW  YORK — AN  EMBARGO  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT — TABLE  OF  PRI 
VATEERS  BELONGING  TO  BALTIMORE  —  PRIVATEERS  FROM  RHODE  ISLAND  AND  SOUTH 
CAROLINA  —  CONSTITUTION,  CAPTAIN  HULL,  OFF  NEW  YORK  —  CONSTITUTION  CHASED 
BY  A  BRITISH  FLEET  —  CHASE  CONTINUED  FOR  THREE  DAYS  —  TUREK  SHIPS  SAIL  FROM 
LISBON,  VIZ.,  AMERICA,  ELIZA  GIUC1E,  AND  ORONOKO -— TWO  OF  THEM  CAPTURED  — 

CAPTAIN  HULL  ARRIVES  AT  BOSTON  —  HIS  KIND  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE  —  REFITS 
FOR  ANOTHER  CRUISE  —  SAILS  FROM  BOSTON  ON  THE  2ND  OF  AUGUST  —  CRUISE  OFF 
THE  COAST  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA  —  JOURNAL  OF  HIS  CRUISE  —  ANXlET.Y  OF  THE  PEOPLE 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE  FATE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  —  CAPTAIN  HCLL  MEETS 
WITH  THE  GUERRIERE  ON  THE  19l'H  OF  AUGUST  —  DEFEAT  OF  TUK  GUERRIERE  — 
REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  SHIPS — CAPTAIN  HULL  RETURNS  TO 
BOSTON  —  HIS  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE. 

ALTHOUGH  the  clouds  of  war  had,  for  a  long  time, 
been  gathering  in  the  political  horizon,  and  everything 
looked  dark  and  threatening,  still  there  was  a  secret 
feeling  in  the  bosom  of  a  large  portion  of  the  nation 
that  they  would  be  dispelled,  and  that  something  would 
eventually  transpire  to  divert  the  wide-spread  calamity 
and  distress  that  war,  and  its  evil  attendants,  would  in 
evitably  produce.  But,  alas !  this  hope  was  delusive, 
and  the  consequence  was,  when  it  did  actually  arrive,  it 
found  the  country  quite  unprepared  to  meet  the  conflict, 
or  to  c&rry  it  on  with  energy  and  success  for  a  con 
siderable  time.  We  had  everything  to  do,  and  but  a 
1 


2  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [J812. 

short  time  to  perform  the  work.  The  general  govern 
ment  called  upon  the  States  for  men  and  money,  and 
requested  them  to  organize  their  militia,  and  prepare  to 
protect  their  own  States,  and,  if  necessary,  to  march  at 
a  moment's  warning  to  any  point  where  their  services 
might  be  required,  particularly  along  the  Atlantic  sea- 
hoard.  The  Merchants  were,  of  course,  anxious  to  get 
home  their  ships  and  vessels  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe  before  they  should  become  a  prey  to  the  enemy. 
Very  soon,  a  small  dispatch  pilot  boat  was  sent  out  in 
haste  to  Gottenburg,  with  news  of  the  war,  and  with 
directions  to  all  our  commercial  marine  in  the  harbors 
of  Sweden,  Denmark,  Prussia,  and  Russia,  to  remain  in 
port  until  the  war  should  cease.  This  enterprise  fortu 
nately  succeeded,  so  that  the  greatest  part  of  our  ships 
and  vessels  in  the  north  of  Europe  were  saved  from 
capture.  When  the  war  was  declared,  we  had  but  a  few 
sharp,  fast  sailing  clipper  vessels  suited  for  privateers 
and  letters  of  marque.  There  were,  however,  a  few  in 
the  most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  namely,  at  Boston,  ISrew 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  and  these  were  brigs 
and  schooners  which  had  been  employed  in  a  sort  of 
forced  running  trade  to  France,  and  to  the  islands  in  the 
West  Indies  :  for  even  before  the  war,  such  vessels  were 
preferred,  on  account  of  their  speed,  to,  avoid  the  British 
cruisers,  for  in  numberless  instances  it  happened,  that 
when  our  merchant  vessels  had  made  a  distant  voyage, 
and  were  returning  home  with  the  fruits  of  their  enter 
prising  industry,  they  were  often  detained,  and  some 
times  captured  and  sent  into  British  ports  .for  adjudica 
tion,  and  if  permitted  to  escape  condemnation,  their  voy 
ages  were  broken  up,  and  ruined  by  the  exorbitant  ex 
penses  in  what  were  falsely  called  their  courts  of  justice. 
Fortunately,  we  still  had  several  of  these  vessels,  which 


J812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  3 

together  with  the  pilot  boats  belonging  to  our  principal 
ports,  very  soon  enabled  our  merchants  to  be  on  the 
alert,  and  ready  to  assail  our  adversary.  Several  of  these 
small  pilot  boats  were  forthwith  dispatched  to  sea  in 
search  of  British  merchantmen.  One  large  centre  gun. 
commonly  called  Long  Tom,  with  a  crew  of  fifty  or  sixty 
men,  and  a  suitable  number  of  muskets,  sabres,  and 
boarding  pikes,  etc.,  was  quite  enough  to  capture  almost 
any  British  merchantman,  at  this  stage  of  the  war.  Of  this 
character  were  the  pilot  boats  Teazer.  Captain  Dobson  : 
Black  Joke,  Captain  Brown  ;  Jack's  Favourite,  Captain 
Johnson,  and  several  other  privateers,  which  werp  f  tted 
out  of  the  port  of  New  York.  These  small  vessels  were 
only  suitable  to  make  short  cruises  about  the  Gulf  of 
Florida,  and  among  the  islands  in  the  West  Indies.  The 
same  course  was  pursued  by  Boston,  Salem,  and  other 
eastern  ports.  At  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
these  privateers  from  the  eastern  ports  were  dispatched 
to  cruise  along  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland, 
and  among  the  British  Windward  Islands  in  the  Carib 
bean  Sea.  On  the  1st  of  July,  1  find  the  following  no 
tice  in  the  newspapers  of  that  day  :  "  The  people  in  the 
eastern  States  are  laboring  almost  night  and  day  to  fit 
out  privateers.  Two  have  already  sailed  from  Salem, 
and  ten  others  are  getting  ready  for  sea.  This  looks 
well,  and  does  credit  to  our  eastern  friends.'7  A  Balti 
more  newspaper,  dated  July  the  4th,  1812,  remarks 
that  "  several  small,  swift  privateers,  will  sail  from  the 
United  States  in  a  few  days.  Some  have  already  been 
sent  to  sea,  and  many  others  of  a  larger  class,  better  fit 
ted  and  better  equipped,  wiU  soon  follow." 

About  the  middle  of  October,  say  four  months  after  the 
declaration  of  war,  I  find  the  following  list  of  privateers 
belonging  to  the  port  of  New  York  alone. 


THE    AMERICAN    PFJVATEERS. 


[1812. 


PRIVATEERS. 

CAPTAINS. 

L.   TOMS. 

GUNS. 

MEN. 

Teazer 

Dobson 

1 

2 

50 

Paul  Jones 

Hazard 

1 

16 

120 

Marengo 

Ridois 

1 

6 

50 

Eagle 

Beaufon 



1 

45 

Rosamond 

Camp  an 

1 

12 

132 

Benjamin  Franklin 

Ingersol 

1 

8 

120 

Black  Joke 

Brown 

1 

2 

60 

Rover 

Ferris 

1 

1 

35 

Orders  in  Council 

Howard 



16 

120 

Saratoga 

Riker 



18 

140 

United  We  Stand 

Storey 

1 

2 

50 

Divided  We  Fall 

Cropsey  " 

1 

2 

50  . 

Governor  Tompkins 

Skinner 

1 

14 

143 

Retaliation 

Newson 

1 

6 

100 

Spitfire 

Miller 

1 

2 

54 

General  Armstrong 

Barnard 

1 

18 

140 

Jack's  Favorite 

Johnson 

1 

4 

80 

Yorktown 

Storey 



18 

160 

Tartar 

King 

* 

6 

80 

Halkar 

Rowland 



16 

160 

Anaconda 

Shaler 



16 

160 

Patriot 

Merrihew 

1 

2 

50 

Union 

Hicks 



1 

24 

Turn  Over 

Southmead 



1 

50 

Right  of  Search 



1 

— 

60 

Bunker  Hill 

Lewis 

1 

4 

— 

Twenty-six. 

18 

194 

2233 

At  this  period  there  was  quite  a  number  of  large  brigs 
-and  schooners,  on  the  pilot-boat  construction,  being  built 
at  Xew  York,  and  also  at  different  ports  in  Connecticut. 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


On  the  3d  of  April,  1812,  seventy-five  days  previous 
to  the  declaration  of  war,  the  American  Government 
wisely  laid  an  embargo  on  all  American  ships  and  ves 
sels  in  our  own  ports,  which  judicious  law  doubtless  pre 
vented  a  large  amount  of  property  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  our  enemies. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  quote  from  a  Baltimore  paper 
of  the  same  date,  the  number  of  privateers  and  letters  of 
marque  belonging  to  that  place.  The  list  is  as  fol 
lows  : — 


SCHOONERS. 

CAPTAINS. 

OT 

1 

_3 

»i 
Ij 

1 
s 

120 

METAL. 

Bossie 

Barney 

1 

13 

12's  24's     6's 

Comet 

Boyle 

2 

12 

320 

9's  12's 

Dolphin 

Stafford 

2 

10 

100 

9's  12's     6's 

Nonsuch 

Levely 

— 

12 

100 

12's 

High  Flyer 

Grant 

1 

7 

100 

12's     6's 

Globe 

Murphy 

1 

7 

90 

9's  12's   18's 

America 

Richardson 

2 

14 

115 

9's  24's     6's 

Bona 

Damerson 

1 

6 

80 

12's     6's 

Tom 

Wilson 

2 

14 

130 

12's  18's     9's 

Sparrow 

Burch 

1 

5 

SO 

12's     6's 

Revenge 

Miller 

2 

14 

140 

S's  12's  24's 

Bella 

Dooley 

1 

5 

80 

.12's 

Joseph  and  Mary 

Wescott 

2 

4 

83 

IS  &  24  poun. 

Wasp 

Taylor 

1 

1 

50 

9  poun. 

Sarah  Ann 

Moon 

1 

1 

50 

9       " 

Liberty 

Pratt 

1 

1 

50 

9      "• 

Hornet 

Frost 

1 

1 

50 

9      " 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  British  ships  of  war  on 
our  coast  and  off  the  entrance  of  our  harbors,  a  great 


6  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

portion  of  our  merchant  ships  and  vessels  were  fortu 
nate  enough  to  evade  capture  by  the  enemy,  and  get 
safe  into  port,  where  they  were  generally  dismantled 
and  laid  up  during  the  war.  This  circumstance  enabled 
the  commanders  of  privateers  and  letters-of-mnr~  >, ;  to 
obtain  seamen  to  man  them,  and  together  with  a  sufficient 
number  of  landsmen  for  marines,  they  were  toon  ready 
for  a  cruise. 

In  addition  to  the  privateers,  there  were  at  sea  twenty- 
five  fast  sailing  letter-of-marque  schooners,  carrying  from 
six  to  ten  guns,  and  from  thirty  to  fifty  men  each,  ex 
clusive  of  officers.  Besides  what  has  been  already  enu 
merated,  there  were  ten  large  schooners,  on  the  pilot 
boat  construction,  three  of  which  were  from  three 
hundred  and  thirty  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons 
burden.  They  were  probably  the  largest  vessels  ever 
built  of  this  description.  Baltimore  nad  sent  to  sea 
since  the  declaration  of  wrar  forty- two  armed  vessels, 
carrying  about  three  hundred  and  thirty  guns,  and  from 
2,800  to  3,000  men.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  up  to 
this  date  not  one  of  our  privateers  had  been  captured, 
though  frequently  chased  by  British  vessels  of  war. 
And  here  I  would  observe,  that  although  Baltimore  took 
the  lead  in  fitting  out  privateers  and  letters  of  marque, 
and  was  more  active  and  patriotic  in  annoying  the 
enemy  than  most  other  cities  in  the  United  States,  still 
I  add  with  pleasure  tlir;-t  the  same  spirit  was  evinced  in 
most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  for  even  the  small  commer 
cial  cities  furnished  more  or  less  of  these  enterprising, 
mischievous  privateers.  Witness  the  famous  privateer 
Yankee  and  several  others  from  Bristol.  Rhode  Island, 
and  the  notorious  little  schooner  Saucy  Jack  from 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  beside  the  large  arid  famous  privateer- 
schooner  Decatur.  Captain  Dominique  Diron  of  the 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  7 

same  port ;  both  of  which  vessels  I  shall  take  occasion 
to  notice  in  their  proper  place. 

The  reader  will  observe  by  these  preliminary  observa 
tions  that  a  portion  of  the  small  privateers  and  letters- 
of-marque  were  sent  to  sea  to  cruise  for  British  mer 
chantmen  a  few  weeks  after  the  declaration  of  war,  and 
that  numerous  larger  ones  were  preparing  to  follow  in  the 
same  pursuit. 

They  were  all,  of  course,  commissioned  by  the'United 
States  Government  to  take,  burn,  sink  and  destroy 
enemy  wherever  he  could  be  found,  either  on  the  higl 
seas  or  in  British  ports. 

I  will  therefore  leave  them  for  the  present  to  annoy 
the  foe,  and  attempt  to  give  an  account  of  the  escape  of 
the  frigate  Constitution,  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  from  a 
British  fleet  6IF  Ihe  west  end  of  Long  Island,  in  about 
twenty-live  fathoms  water,  just  out  of  sight  of  land. 

But  before  I  proceed  further  on  the  subject  I  shall 
digress  a  little,  and  make  a  few  preliminary  observations, 
in  order  to  bring  up  the  witnesses  of  this  interesting 
chase  from  both  parties,  and,  like  old  Mrs.  Slipslop  in  the 
play,  ''  go  on  to  tell  the  story  in  my  own  way/''  At  this 
period,  the  writer  of  these  pages  commanded  a  merchant 
ship  called  the  America,  and  was  then  in  Lisbon,  in  which 
port  were  quite  a  number  of  American  merchant  ships 
ar.d  vessels  bound  to  the  United  States.  And,  though 
there  was  i.o  certainty  that  war  would  soon  be  declared, 
still  there  was  much  excitement  on  the  subject,  and  all  were 
anxious  to  return  home  for  fear  of  capture.  There  were 
at  that  time  four  large  ships,  belonging  to  the  house  of 
Archibald  Grade  &  Sons,  of  ]S"ew  York,  lying  in  this 
•port.  viz.,  the  Briganza,  Eliza  Gracie,  Oronoko,  and  the 
America.  The  last  three  of  these  ships,  together  with 
many  other  merchant  vessels,  sailed  out  of  the  Tagus 


ited    \\ 
the    \\ 

ugh      \ 


8  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1SJ2. 

with  a  fine,  fresh,  easterly  breeze,  on  the  14th  of  June, 
1812,  all  bound  to  their  respective  ports  in  the  United 
States. 

During  the  first  day  out  there  was  no  material  differ 
ence  in  the  sailing  of  the  three  ships.  We  all  pushed 
to  the  westward  taking  about  the  same  course.  At 
nightfall,  I  edged  the  ship  off  a  couple  of  points  to  the 
southward  in  order  to  get  clear  of  the  fleet,  wishing 
to  pursue  my  destiny  alone,  whether  for  weal  or  woe, 
and  at  daylight  the  next  morning  there  was  nothing  in 
sight.  We  had  favorable  winds  for  several  days  and 
proceeded  rapidly  on  our  course  until  we  reached  lat. 
40°  10' North,  longitude  32°  West,  that  is  to  say  a  little 
to  the  west  of  the  Western  Islands.  There  we  met  with 
light  airs  and  calms,  which  continued  for  five  consecutive 
days.  During  that  time  we  did  not  make  fifty  miles 
distance.  The  calm  weather  which  I  at  this  time  con 
sidered  as  a  great  misfortune,  proved  in  the  result  the 
salvation  of  tL.o  ship.  The  two  other  ships  viz.,  the  Eliza 
Graeie,  Captain  James  Brown,  and  the  Oronoko,  Captain 
John  Richards,  steered  their  ships  on  a  more  northerly 
parallel,  and  had  a  fresh  breeze  from  t*he  north-east, 
while  my  ship  lay  becalmed  for  nearly  a  week.  And 
thus,  while  I  fortunately  escaped  the  enemy,  they  fell  in 
\\ii\i  a  British  fleet  from  Halifax,  bound  to  the  westward 
to  cruise  off  the  port  of  New  York,  with  the  intention, 
no  doiibv,  of  intercepting  and  capturing  American  men- 
of-war  and  merchant  vessels  bound  into  that  port. 

This  fleet  was  composed  of  the  following  ships,  viz., 
the  Africa,  64,  Captain  Bastard ;  Shannon,  38,  Captain 
Broke,  senior  officer  of  this  squadron  ;  the  Guerriere,  38, 
Captain  Dacres ;  Belvidera,  36,  Captain  Byron,  and  the 
^Eolus,  32,  Captain  Lord  James  Townsend. 

All  these  ships  were  united  at  this  time  it]  the  hope  of 


181 2.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  9 

falling  in  with  Commodore  Rodgers  who  had  sailed  with 
a  small  squadron  from  New  York  on  the  2 1st  of  June, 
three  days  after  the  declaration  of  war.  When  the 
Eliza  Gracie  and  the  Oronoko  fell  in  with  this  ileet,  they 
knew  nothing  of  the  war,  but  they  soon  found  to  their 
sorrow  that  they  were  all  prisoners  of  war.  After  re 
moving  the  captains,  officers  and  crews  from  the  ships, 
they  burned  the  Eliza  Gracie  (a  beautiful  new  ship)  and 
sent  the  Oronoko  into  Halifax.  This  circumstance  oc 
curred  about  a  week  previous  to  the  memorable  chase 
by  the  before-named  English  fleet  of  the  frigate  Consti 
tution.  The  witnesses  of  the  pursuit  and  escape  of  that 
frigate  are  as  follows  :  Captain  James  Brown  of  New 
York,  on  board  of  the  Shannon  ;  Captains  Richards  and 
Rodgers,  on  board  of  the  other  frigates.  These  gentle 
men  witnessed  the  whole  proceedings  of  both  parties 
with  the  most  intense  interest  and  anxiety  for  the  honor 
and  escape  of  the  Constitution.  They  related  to  me 
personally  all  they  saw  and  felt  during  the  whole  period 
of  Captain  Hull's  unparalleled  nautical  skill,  and  masterly 
seamanship,  which  I  will  relate  in  the  course  of  this  nar 
rative. 

On  the  12th  of  July  the  Constitution  left  Annapolis, 
and  on  the  16th  of  the  same  month  left  the  capes  of  the 
Delaware,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight  of  the  land,  steer 
ing  along  the  coast  towards  Sandy  Hook,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  shore,  with  a  light  breeze  from  the 
northward,  under  easy  sail.  On  the  17th,  at  one  P.M., 
sounded  in  twenty-two  fathoms  of  water,  and  in  about 
an  hour  after  made  four  large  sail  to  the  northward. 
At  four,  discovered  a  fifth  sail  to  the  northward  and 
eastward,  which  looked  like  a  man-of-war.  This  ship 
being  further  to  the  eastward,  and  a  little  detached  from 
the  other  four,  the  Constitution  made  sail,  and  at  six 


10  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

P.M.,  the  wind  being  light  from  the  southward,  the  Con 
stitution  now  wore  round  with  her  head  to  the  eastward, 
which  brought  her  to  the  windward  of  the  enemy.  She 
then  set  her  light  studding  sails  and  stay  sails,  and  at 
half-past  seven  P.M.,  towards  evening,  beat  to  quarters 
and  cleared  ship  for  action,  in  hopes  of  cutting  off  the 
nearest  ship.  The  wind  continued  very  light  from  the 
southward,  and  the  two  ships  were  slowly  nearing  each 
other  until  eight  o'clock.  At  ten,  the  Constitution 
shortened  sail  and  showed  the  private  signal  of  the  day. 
After  keeping  the  lights  aloft  for  about  an  hour,  and 
receiving  no  answer  from  the  British  frigate,  the  Consti 
tution,  at  a  quarter  past  eleven,  took  in  the  signal  lights 
and  made  sail  again,  hauling  aboard  her  starboard  tacks, 
and  stood  to  the  eastward  under  easy  sail.  During  the 
whole  of  the  middle  watch  the  wind  was  light  from  the 
southward  and  westward.  Just  as  the  morning  \yatch 
was  called,  the  frigate,  which  subsequently  proved  to  be 
the  Guerriere,  tacked,  and  then  wore  entirely  round, 
threw  a  rocket  and  fired  two  guns,  no  doubt  as  a  signal 
to  the  rest  of  the  British  fleet  that  an  enemy's  frigate 
was  near. .  As  the  day  dawned,  three  of  the  enemy's 
ships  were  seen  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  Consti- 
sution,  and  two  wrere  astern.  This,  then,  was  the 
squadron  of  Commodore  Broke,  all  of  which  had  been 
gradually  closing  with  the  Ameiican  frigate  during  the 
night,  and  was  now  just  out  of  long  gun-shot.  As  the 
mist  of  the  morning  entirely  cleared  away,  the  Constitu 
tion  found  she  had  two  frigates  on  her  lee  quarter  and  a 
ship-of-the-line,  two  frigates,  a  brig,  and  a  schooner 
astern.  All  these  ships  and  vessels  had  English  colors 
flying,  and  immediately  gave  chase  to  the  American 
frigate.  It  soon,  however,  fell  quite  calm,  and  now 
came  the  tug  of  war.  All  the  fleet  were  in  hot  pursuit, 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  11 

and  the  trial  commenced  of  seamanship,  skill  and  nau 
tical  activity  ;  in  fine,  every  feeling  of  national  honoi 
and  ardent  patriotism  was  aroused  and  brought  into 
requisition  on  both  sides.  And  this  was  soon  to  be  the 
grand  crisis,  whether  we  should  lose  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war  one  of  our  finest  frigates,  or  whether  she 
should  escape  and  hereafter  shed  a  halo  of  glory  on 
the  flag  under  which  she  sailed,  and  on  the  nation  to 
whom  she  belonged.  Every  arm  was  nerved,  and  every 
heart  beat  high  for  the  honor  of  both  the  belligerent 
parties. 

The  Constitution  hoisted  out  her  boats,  and  sent  them 
ahead  to  tow  the  ship  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
shot.  Four  of  her  long  twenty-fours  were  run  out  as 
stern  chasers,  viz.,  two  on  the  gun-deck,  and  two  on  the 
spar  deck.  Although  it  was  found  necessary  to  cut 
away  some  of  the  wood- work  of  the  stern  frame,  in 
order  to  make  room  to  work  the  guns,  still  this  was  soon 
done,  and  no  time  lost.  While  the  boats  were  towing 
ahead,  Captain  Hull  discovered  that  the  Shannon,  one  of 
the  enemy's  swiftest  ships,  had  not  only  all  her  own  boats 
ahead  towing,  but  was  assisted  by  a  number  from  the 
other  ships.  As  it  was  quite  calmr  the  Shannon  ap- 
pearcJ  to  gain  a  little  oft  the  chase.  Soon  after,  the 
Shannon,  being  the  headmost  ship,  began  firing  her  bow 
guns,  which  she  kept  up  for  about  ten  or  fifteen  minutes, 
when  finding  her  shot  fall  short,  she  ceased  firing.  And 
now  what  should  be  done  to  widen  the  distance  between 
the  pursuers  and  the  pursued?  It  was  evident  to  Capt. 
Hull  and  his  officers  that  the  superior  number  of  towing 
boats  would  soon  endanger  them  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  whole  fleet.  It  then  occurred  to  him  to  sound, 
which  was  done  at  half-past  six  P.M.  When  it  was  found 
that  they  wen*  in  twenty-six  fathoms  of  water,  the  Con- 


]2  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  |18J2. 

stitution  mustered  her  hawsers  and  all  the  spare  rope 
that  could  be  found  fit  for  the  purpose.  They  were 
then  payed  down  into  the  cutters,  when  a  kedge  was 
run  out  a  long  distance  ahead  and  let  go.  The  crew  then 
clapped  on  and  walked  away  with  the  ship  with  such 
life  and  animation  that  the  enemy  was  astonished  how 
the  Constitution  could  leave  them  so  fast,  having  not 
half  the  number  of  boats  that  were  towing  the  Shannon. 
And  thus  while  one  kedge  was  run  up,  another  was 
carried  ahead.  In  this  manner  the  enemy's  ships  were 
fast  losing  ground. 

My  friend  Captain  Brown,  who  was  a  prisoner  on 
board  the  Shannon,  told  me  that  with  a  spy-glass  he 
soon  discovered  what  \vas  going  on  on  board  the  Consti 
tution,  but  of  course  he  kept  the  secret  to  himself.  He 
said,  however,  that  some  hours  after  this,  an  officer  with 
a  glass  from  aloft  discovered  that  the  American  frigate 
was  kedging.  They  also  resorted  to  the  same  expedient, 
but,  alas !  their  knowledge  came  too  late.  The  same 
gentleman  said  it  was  amusing  to  hear  Captain  Broke  and 
his  officers  converse  about  the  Yankee  frigate.  At  one 
period  of  the  chase  they  were  so  confident  of  capturing 
her  that  a  prize  officer  and  crew  were  already  appointed 
to  conduct  her  in  triumph  to  Halifax.  To  all  their 
questions  of  taking  the  Constitution,  Captain  Brown  had 
but  one  answer  to  make,  and  that  was,  "  Gentlemen, 
you  will  never  take  that  frigate." 

At  half-past  seven  in  the  evening,  the  Constitution 
was  tavored  with  a  light  air,  when  she  set  her  ensign, 
and  fired  a  shot  at  the  Shannon,  the  nearest  ship  astern. 
At  eight,  it  fell  calm  again,  when  further  recourse  was 
had  to  the  boats,  and  kedging.  At  nine,  the  Shannon, 
on  which  the  English  had  put  most  of  their  boats,  was 
fast  nearins;  the  Constitution  again.  There  was  now  a 


1812.J  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  13 

fair  prospect,  notwithstanding  the  steadiness  and  activity 
of  Captain  Hull  and  his  gallant  officers  and  crew,  that 
the  Shannon  would  get  near  enough  to  cripple  their 
ship,  when  her  capture  by  the  rest  of  the  squadron  would 
be  inevitable. 

At  this  trying  moment,  the  best  spirit  inspired  the 
whole  ship's  company.  Everything  was  stoppered,  and 
Captain  Hull  was  not  without  hope  that  should  he  even  be 
forced  into  action  by  the  Shannon  that  he  would  be  able 
to  silence  her,  and  still  escape  from  the  fleet.  He  knew 
also  that  the  enemy  dare  not  venture  too  near  with  his 
boats,  as  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  sink  them  with  his 
stern  guns,  so  that  neither  his  officers  nor  men  showed 
the  least  disposition  to  despondency.  They  relieved  each 
other  regularly  at  the  trying  duty  of  the  ship,  and,  while 
the  officers  caught  short  naps  on  deck,  the  seanien  slept 
at  their  guns. 

But  now  had  arrived  the  most  critical  moment  of  the 
chase.  The  Shannon  was  fast  closing,  the  Guerriere  was 
almost  as  near  on  the  larboard  quarter,  so  that  one  hour 
more  promised  to  bring  the  long  struggle  to  an  issue  ; 
when  suddenly,  at  nine  minutes  past  nine,  it  pleased  God 
to  send  a  light  air  from  the  southward  which  struck  the 
ship  and  thus  brought  her  to  windward  of  her  adversa 
ries.  The  manner  in  which  this  advantage  was  improved 
was  truly  a  beautiful  sight,  and  must  have  been  highly 
exciting  to  nautical  men,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  so 
even  in  the  bosom  of  the  enemy.  As  the  wind  increased 
the  sails  were  trimmed  to  the  breeze,  and  it  was  then 
that  Old  Ironsides  walked  away  from  the  enemy  like  a 
thing  of  life. 

As  soon  as  she  was  under  command  and  brought  up 
to  the  wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  the  boats  were  tem 
porarily  hoisted  to  their  places.  As  the  Constitution 


.14  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

3ame  by  the  wind,  she  brought  the  Guerriere  nearly  on 
her  lee  beam,  when  that  frigate  opened  a  fire  from  her 
broadside,  but  being  at  so  great  a  distance,  her  shot  fell 
harmless  into  the  water.  In  about  an  hour,  however,  it 
fell  calm  again,  when  Captain  Hull  ordered  a  quantity  of 
water  to  be  started,  in  order  to  lighten  the  ship.  More 
than  two  thousand  gallons  were  pumped  out,  and  the 
boats  were  sent  ahead  to  tow.  The  enemy  now  put 
nearly  all  the  boats  of  the  fleet  on  the  Shannon,  the 
nearest  ship  astern.  A  few  hours  of  prodigious  exertion 
followed  ;  the  crew  of  the  Constitution  being  obliged  to 
supply  the  place  of  numbers  by  their  activity  and  zeal. 
The  ships  were  close-haul  upon  the  wind,  and  every  sail 
that  would  draw  was  set,  but  still  the  Shannon  was  slowly 
but  steadily  forging  ahead. 

About  noon  this  day,  there  was  a  little  relaxation  from 
labor,  owing  to  the  occasional  occurrence  of  light  airs  or 
cats-paws.  By  watching  these  baffling  airs  closely,  the 
ship  was  urged  gently  through  the  water,  but  at  a  quar 
ter  past  twelve  the  toilsome  work  of  towing  and  kedging 
was  renewed.  At  one  o'clock  a  strange  sail  was  dis 
covered,  nearly  to  leeward.  At  the  same  time  tha  four 
frigates  of  the  enemy  were  about  one  point  on  the  lee 
quarter  of  the  Constitution,  at  long  gun-shot  distance, 
the  Africa  and  the  two  prizes  being  on  the  lee  beam. 
As  the  wind  was  constantly  baffling,  any  moment  might 
have  brought  a  change  and  placed  the  enemy  to  wind 
ward.  At  seven  minutes  before  two,  the  Belvidera,  then 
the  nearest  ship,  began  to  fire  with  her  bow  guns,  and 
the  Constitution  opened  with  her  stern-chasers.  On 
board  the  latter  ship,  it  was  however  soon  found  to  be 
dangerous  to  use  the  main-deck  guns  from  the  cabin 
windows — the  transoms  having  so  much  rake,  the  win 
dows  so  high  and  the  guns  so  short,  that  every  explosion 


1812.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  15 

lifted  the  upper  deck,  and  threatened  to  blow  out  the 
stern  frame.  Perceiving,  moreover,  that  his  shot  did  lit 
tle  or  no  execution,  Captain  Hull  ordered-  the  firing  to 
cease,  at  half  past  two. 

For  several  hours  the  enemy's  frigates  were  nearly 
within  gun-shot ;  sometimes  towing  and  kedging,  and  at 
others  endeavoring  to  close  with  the  light  puffs  of  air 
that  occasionally  passed.  At  seven  o'clock  in  the  eve 
ning,  the  boats  of  the  Constitution  were  again  ahead  • 
the  ship  steering  S.W.  J  W.  with  an  air  so  light  as  to  be 
almost  imperceptible.  At  half  past  seven,  she  sounded 
in  twenty-four  fathoms.  For  four  hours  the  same  toil 
some  duty  was  going  on,  until  a  little  before  eleven,  when 
a  light  air  from  the  southward  struck  the  fclilp,  ai)d  the 
sails,  for  the  first  time  in  many  weary  hours,  were  asleep. 
The  boats  instantly  dropped  alongside,  hooked  on.  and 
were  all  run  up,  with  the  exception  of  the  first  cutter. 
The  top-gallant  studding  sails  and  stay  sails  were  set.  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  for  about  an  hour  the  people  caught 
a  little  rest.  But  at  midnight  it  fell  calm  again,  though 
neither  the  pursuers  nor  the  pursued  had  recourse  to 
the  boats,  probably  from  their  unwillingness  to  disturb 
their  crews. 

At  two  A.M.  it  was  observed  on  board  the  Constitution 
that  the  Guerriere  had  forged  ahead,  and  was  again  on 
their  leebeam.  At  this  time,  the  top-gallant  studding- 
sails  were  taken  in.  In  this  manner  passed  the  night, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day  it  was  found  that 
three  of  the  enemy's  frigates  were  within  long  gun  shot, 
on  the  lee  quarter,  and  the  other  at  about  the  ;-;ame  dis 
tance  on  the  lee  beam.  The  Africa  and  the  prizes  were 
much  further  to  leeward.  A  little  after  daylight,  the 
Guerriere,  having  drawn  ahead  sufficiently  to  be  forward 
of  the  beam  of  the  Constitution,  tacked,  wiien  the  latter 


16  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

ship  did  the  same,  in  order  to  preserve  her  position  to 
windward.  An  hour  later,  the  JSolus  passed  on  the 
contrary  tack,  so  near  that  it  was  thought  by  some  who 
observed  the  movement  that  she  ought  to  have  opened 
her  fire  upon  the  Constitution.  But  as  that  vessel  was 
only  a  twelve-pounder  frigate,  and  she  was  still  at  a  con 
siderable  distance,  it  is  very  probable  her  commander 
acted  judiciously. 

By  this  time  there  was  sufficient  wind  to  induce 
Captain  Hull  to  hoist  in  his  first  cutter.  The  scene  on 
the  morning  of  this  day  was  beautiful  in  the  extreme. 
The  weather  was  mild  and  lovely,  the  sea  was  as 
smooth  as  a  mill-pond.  There  was  quite  wind  enough 
to  remove  the  necessity  of  any  extraordinary  means  of 
getting  ahead,  that  had  been  so  freely  used  during  the 
previous  eight  and  forty  hours.  All  the  English  ships 
were  on  the  same  tack  with  the  Constitution,  and  the  five 
frigates  had  everything  set  from  their  trucks  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  appeared  like  beautiful  white  clouds  as  they 
gently  ploughed  through  the  unruffled  deep.  Including 
the  American  frigate,  eleven  sail  were  in  sight,  and 
shortly  after  a  twelfth  appeared  to  windward,  which  was 
soon  ascertained  to  be  an  American  merchantman.  But 
the  enemy  was  too  intent  on  capturing  the  Constitution 
to  regard  any  thing  else,  and  though  it  would  have  been 
easy  to  take  the  ships  to  leeward,  110  attention  appears 
to  have  been  paid  to  them.  With  a  view,  however,  to 
deceive  the  ship  to  windward,  they  hoisted  American 
colors,  when  the  Constitution  set  an  English  ensign  by 
way  of  warning  the  stranger  to  keep  aloof  from  the 
fleet. 

Until  ten  o'clock  the  Constitution  was  making  every 
preparation  to  carry  sail  hard,  should  it  become  neces 
sary,  and  now  sounded  in  twenty  fathoms  of  water.  At 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  17 

noon  the  wind  died  away  again  to  a  moderate  breeze, 
though  it  was  found  while  the  wind  lasted  that  she  had 
gained  on  all  the  enemy's  ships  ;  more,  however,  on  some 
than  others.  The  nearest  ship  was  the  Belvidera,  which 
vessel  was  exactly  in  the  wake  of  the  Constitution,  dis 
tant  about  two-and-a-half  miles,  bearing  N.N.W.  The 
two  other  frigates  were  on  the  lee  quarter,  distant  about 
five  miles,  and  the  Africa  was  hull  down  to  leeward  on 
the  opposite  tack. 

This  was  a  vast  improvement  on  the  state  of  things 
that  had  existed  the  previous  day,  and  it  allowed  the 
officers  and  men  to  catch  a  little  rest,  though  no  one  left 
the  decks.  The  latitude,  by  observation  this  day,  was 
38°  47'  North,  and  the  longitude,  by  dead  reckoning, 
73°  57'  West.  At  meridian  the  wind  began  to  blow  a 
pleasant  breeze,  and  the  sound  of  the  water  was  heard 
rippling  under  the  bows  of  the  noble  old  ship.  From 
this  moment  the  Constitution  slowly,  though  steadily, 
drew  ahead  of  all  her  pursuers,  every  sail  was  watched 
and  tended  in  the  best  manner  that  experience  and  sea 
manship  could  dictate.  At  four  P.M.,  the  Belvidera  was 
more  than  four  miles  astern,  and  the  other  ships  were 
left  behind  iii  the  same  proportion,  though  the  wind  had 
again  become  very  light. 

In  this  manner  both  parties  kept  pressing  ahead  and 
to  windward  as  fast  <ts  possible,  profiting  by  every  little 
change  of  wind  to  force  their  ships  through  the  water. 
At  a  little  before  seven  A.M.  there  was  every  appearance 
of  a  heavy  squall  attended  by  rain,  when  the  Constitu 
tion  prepared  to  meet  it  with  the  coolness  and  discretion 
winch  had  been  displayed  throughout  the  whole  affair. 
The  men  were  stationed,  and  everything  was  kept  fast  to 
the  last  moment,  when,  just  before  the  squall  struck  the 
ship,  the  order  was  given  to  "  clew  up"  and  "clew  down." 
2 


18  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

In  an  instant  all  the  light  sails  were  furled,  the  mizzen- 
topsail  was  reefed,  and  the  ship  brought  under  short  sail 
in  a  few  mimites.  The  English  ships  saw  the  threaten 
ing  force  of  the  squall  ;  without  waiting  for  the  wind, 
began  to  clew  up  and  haul  down,  and  keep  off  from  the 
wind,  so  that  when  the  rain  subsided  and  the  weather 
cleared  a  little,  they  were  seen  steering  in  different 
directions.  On  the  other  hand,  after  the  Constitution 
had  received  the  force  cf  the  squall,  she  sheeted  home, 
and  hoisted  her  fore  and  main-top-gallant  sails,  and  in  a 
few  moments  after,  v/as  flying  away  from  the  enemy  on 
an  easy  bowline  at  the  rate  of  eleven  knots. 

In  a  little  less  than  t.n  hour  after  the  squall  had 
struck  the  ship  it  had  entirely  passed  off  to  leeward,  and 
another  sight  was  again  obtained  of  the  enemy.  The 
Belvidera,  the  nearest  ship,  had  altered  her  bearing  in 
that  short  period  nearly  two  points  more  to  leeward,  and 
was  a  long  way  astern.  The  next  nearest  vessel  was  still 
further  to  leeward  and  more  distant ;  while  the  two  re 
maining  frigates  were  fairly  hull  down,  and  the  Africa 
was  barely  visible  in  the  horizon ! 

All  apprehensions  of  the  enemy  now  were  at  an  end, 
still  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  carry  sail  on  the  ship  to 
increase  the  distance,  and  also  to  preserve  the  weather 
gage.  At  half-past  ten  the  wind  backed  further  to  the 
southward,  when  the  Constitution,  which  had  been  steer 
ing  free  for  some  time,  took  in  her  lower  studding-sails. 
At  eleven  the  enemy  fifed  two  guns,  and  the  nearest  ship 
could  just  be  discovered  like  a  speck  on  the  water.  As 
the  wind  continued  light  and  baffling,  the  enemy  still 
persevered  in  the  chase,  but  at  day-light  the  nearest 
ship  was  hull  down  astern  and  to  leeward.  Under  the 
circumstances,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  use  every  ex 
ertion  to  lose  sight  of  the  English  frigates,  and  as  the 


1.812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  19 


wind  was  falling  light,  the  Constitution's  sails  were  wet 
down  from  the  sky-sails  to  the  courses.  The  good  effect 
of  this  care  was  soon  visible,  as  at  six  A.M.  the  topsails 
of  the  enemy's  nearest  ships  were  beginning  to  dip  in 
the  water.  At  a  quarter  past  eight  the  English  ship.^ 
all  hauled  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  and  gave  up 
the  chase  ;  fully  satisfied,  by  a  trial  that  had  lasted 
nearly  three  days  and  as  many  nights,  under  all  the  cir 
cumstances  that  attend  nautical  ma*no3uvres,  from  reef 
ing  topsails,  to  towing  and  kedging,  that  they  had  no 
hope  of  overtaking  their  enemy. 

Thus  terminated  a  chase  that  has  become  celebrated 
for  its  length,  perseverance,  coolnass,  and  activity,  and 
stands  unparalleled  on  the  pages  of  nautical  history.  On 
board  of  the  Constitution,  during  the  whole  of  this  ex 
citing  period,  there  was  no  confusion  or  disorder,  every 
order  was  judiciously  given,  and  promptly  obeyed.  To 
effect  her  escape  the  Constitution  lost  not  a  spar,  nor  a 
sail,  no  anchor  was  cut  away,  no  gun  lost,  no  boat  de 
stroyed,  and  nothing  was  thrown  overboard  except  some 
gallons  of  water.  A  few  days  after  losing  sight  of  the 
enemy,  the  noble  old  ship  arrived  safe  at  Boston.  In 
conclusion  I  have  only  to  add  a  just  eulogy  to  her  brave 
commander,  the  heroic  Hull.  He  was  cool,  resolute,  and 
discreet  throughout  the  whole  affair,  and  was  nobly  sus 
tained  by  his  gallant  officers  and  crew.  They  are  there 
fore  entitled  to  their  country's  everlasting  gratitude. 

On  Captain  Hull's  arrival  at  Boston,  after  his  escape 
from  the  English  squadron,  he  was  heartily  greeted  by 
his  friends,  and  the  people  of  that  city,  on  which  occasion 
he  entered  the  following  notice  on  the  coffee-house  books  : 

"  Captain  Hull,  finding  his  friends  in  Boston  are  cor 
rectly  informed  of  his  situation  when  chased  by  the 
British  squadron  off  New- York,  and  that  they  are  good 


20  THE   AMERICAN    PRIYATEERS.  [1812. 

enough  to  give  him  more  credit  for  having  escaped 
them  than  he  ought  to  claim,  takes  this  opportunity  of 
requesting  them  to  make  a  transfer  of  a  great  part  of 
their  good  wishes  to  Lieutenant  Morris,  and  the  other 
brave  officers,  and  the  crew  under  his  command,  for  their 
many  great  exertions  and  prompt  attention  to  orders 
while  the  enemy  were  in  chase. 

' '  Captain  Hull  has  great  pleasure  in  saying,  that  not 
withstanding  the  length  of  the  chase,  the  officers  and 
crew  being  deprived  of  sleep,  and  allowed  but  little 
refreshment  during  the  time,  not  a  murmur  was  heard 
to  escape  them.'7 

After  the  memorable  chase  of  the  Constitution  by 
the  British  fleet,  they  were  allowed  to  separate  arid 
cruise  singly  on  and  off  our  coast,  in  order  to  des 
troy  all  manner  of  American  vessels  ;  and  it  so 
happened  that  not  long  after  the  separation,  when  off 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  little  merchant-ship  John 
Adams,  on  her  return  home  to  New  York  from  Lisbon 
(she  having  a  British  license,)  fell  in  with  the  Guerriere, 
when  Captain  D acres  indorsed  the  following  challenge  on 
her  register  : — 

"Captain  Dacres,  commander  of  his  "Britannic  Ma 
jesty's  frigate  Guerriere,  of  forty -four  guns,  presents  his 
compliments  to  Commodore  Rodgers,  of  the  United  States 
frigate  President,  and  will  be  very  happy  to  meet  him, 
or  any  other  American  frigate  of  equal  force  to  the  Pres 
ident,  off  Sandy  Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  social 
tete-a-tete." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  John  Adams  at  New  York, 
Captain  Dacres'  challenge  was  copied  into  all  the  news 
papers  of  the  day,  and  had  a  wide  circulation  all  over 
the  United  States. 

Captain  Hull  remained  with   the  Constitution  in  the 


1812.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  21 

port  of  Boston  about  a  week,  just  long  enough  to  fill  up 
his  water,  reprovision  the  ship,  and  refresh  his  officers 
and  crew,  when  we  find  by  his  letter  to  the  Hon.  Paul 
Hamilton.  Secretary  of  the  Navy,dated  Augustjthe  2d,_ 
lSl^,Tn"at  he  left  port  on  that  day ~ and  stood  to  the 
eastward,  along  the  coast,  in  hopes  of  falling  in  with  one 
of  the  enemy's  frigates  which  was  reported  to  be  cruis 
ing  in  that  direction.  He  then  ran  off  Halifax  and  Cape 
Sable,  and  after  remaining  near  there  for  three  or  four 
days,  without  seeing  anything  which  determined  him 
to  change  his  cruising-ground  towards  Newfoundland, 
bore  up,  and  ran  to  the  eastward,  under  full  sail,  pass 
ing  near  the  Isle  of  Sable,  and  then  hauled  in  and  took 
a  station  off  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  near  Cape  Race, 
to  intercept  the  ships  of  the  enemy  bound  either  to  or 
from  Quebec  or  Halifax,  and  to  be  in  a  situation  to  re 
capture  such  of  our  vessels  as  they  might  be  sending 
into  British  ports. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  being  off  Cape  Race,  he  fell 
in  with  a  light  English  brig  bound  to  Halifax,  from  New 
foundland,  and  as  she  was  not  worth  sending  in,  he 
took  out  the  crew  and  burned  her.  On  the  llth  he 
took  the  British  brig  Adiona,  from  Nova  Scotia,  bound 
to  England,  loaded  with  ship  timber  ;  took  out  the  crew, 
set  her  on  fire,  and  made  sail  to  take  a  station  nearer 
Cape  Race,  where  he  continued  to  cruise  until  the 
morning  of  the  15th.  At  daylight  five  sail  were  in  sight 
ahead  of  them,  apparently  a  small  convoy.  He  gave 
chase  under  a  press  of  sail,  and  soon  found  he  gained  on 
them  very  fast,  and  discovered  that  one  of  them  was  a 
ship-of-war.  At  sunrise  they  hove  about,  and  stood  on 
the  same  tack  with  him.  By  this  time  he  discovered 
that  the  ship  of  war  had  a  brig  in  tow.  At  six,  coming  up 
very  fast  with  the  ship,  she  cast  off  her  tow  and  set  her 


22  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

on  fire,  and  had  ordered  a  second  brig  to  stand  before 
the  wind  to  separate  them,  the  ship- of- war  making  sail 
to  the  windward.  He  then  gave  chase  to  a  ship  which 
appeared  to  be  under  her  convoy,  but  when  he  came  up 
with  her  she  proved  to  be  a  British  prize  to  the  Dol 
phin  privateer  of  Salem.  She  had  been  spoken  by  the 
ship-of-war,  but  he  came  up  with  them  before  they  had 
time  to  put  men  on  board  and  take  charge  of  her.  While 
the  Constitution's  boats  were  boarding  this  vessel,  the 
ship-of-war  had  got  nearly  hull  down  from  him,  and  un 
derstanding  from  one  of  the  prisoners  that  she  was  a 
very  fast  sailer,  he  found  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
come  up  with  her  before  night,  or  perhaps  not  then  ;  he 
therefore  gave  chase  to  the  brig  that  ran  before  the 
wind,  determined  to  destroy  all  her  convoy.  He  soon 
found  he  came  up  fast  with  the  brig,  and  that  they  were 
making  every  exertion  to  get  off,  by  throwing  overboard 
all  the  lumber,  water-casks,  etc.,  etc.  At  two  p.  M.  he 
brought-to,  the  chase,  and  found  her  to  be  the  American 
brig  Adeline,  from  Liverpool,  loaded  with  dry  goods, 
etc.  Took  the  prize-master  and  crew  out,  and  put  Mid 
shipman  Madison  and  a  crew  on  board,  with  orders  to 
proceed  to  the  nearest  port  in  the  United  States.  From 
the  prize-master  of  this  vessel  he  learned,  that  the  brig 
burned  by  the  sloop-of-war,  belonged  to  New  .York,  and 
was  loaded  with  hemp,  duck,  last  from  Jutland,  hav 
ing  gone  in  there  in  distress. 

Having  chased  so  far  to  the  eastward  as  to  make  it 
impossible  to  come  up  with  the  sloop-of-war,  he  deter 
mined  to  .change  his  cruising-ground,  as  he  found  by 
some  of  the  prisoners  that  came  from  this  vessel,  that 
the  squadron  that  chased  him  off  New  York,  was  on  the 
western  edge  of  the  Grand  Bank,  not  far  distant  from 
him.  He  accordingly  stood  to  the  southward,  intending 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  23 

to  pass  near  Bermuda,  and  cruise  off  our  southern 
coast — saw  nothing  till  the  night  of  the  18th  ;  at  half- 
past  nine,  P.M.,  discovered  a  sail  very  near,  it  being 
dark  :  made  sail  and  gave  chase,  and  could  see  that  she 
was  a  brig.  At  eleven  brought  her  to,  sent  a  boat  on 
board,  and  found  her  to  be  the  American  privateer 
Decatur,  belonging  to  Salem,  with  a  crew  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  men,  and  fourteen  guns,  twelve  of  which  she 
had  thrown  overboard  while  we  were  in  chase  of  her. 
The  captain  came  on  board,  arid  informed  us  that  he 
saw  the  day  before,  a  ship-of-war  standing  to  the  south 
ward,  and  that  she  could  not  be  far  from  us.  At 
twelve  A.M.  made  sail  to  the  southward,  intending,  if 
possible,  to  fall  in  with  her.  The  privateer  stood-in  for 
Cape  Race,  to  make  that  her  cruising-ground,  and  take 
ships  by  boarding,  as  she  had  lost  all  her  guns  but 
two. 

The  above  is  the  substance  of  a  journal  kept  by  Cap 
tain  Hull,  on  board  the  Constitution,  from  the  time  he  left 
Boston  up  to  this  date,  namely,  August  the  18th. 

As  Captain  Hull  is  once  more  on  his  own  element, 
and  on  the  best  cruising-ground  he  could  select  for  Eng 
lish  men-of-war,  I  will  leave  him  there  for  the  present, 
and  return  on  shore  to  take  a  view  of  public  opinion. 
With  respect  to  naval  battles  ;  on  the  one  hand,  the 
Americans  had  generally  been  accustomed  to  think  the 
English  navy  invincible.  They  had  so  long  triumphed 
over  the  French  and  Spanish  ships-of-war,  and  gained 
so  many  easy  victories  by  their  superior  seamanship, 
that  the  English  themselves  believed,  or  affected  to  be 
lieve,  that  one  of  their  sloops-of-war  was  a  match  for  a 
frigate  of  any  other  nation.  Their  old  sea-songs  had 
inspired  them  with  a  feeling  of  vanity  which  rendered 
them  obnoxious  to  all  other  nations,  and  it  seemed  to  be 


24  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  1 1812. 

the  will  of  Providence  that  young  and  inexperienced 
America  should  be  the  first  nation  to  humble  their  pride, 
and  break  the  spell  that  had  so  long  caused  them  to 
domineer  over  States  less  powerful  than  themselves.  In 
view  of  all  these  causes,  there  was  an  intense  feeling  of 
hope  and  fear  for  the  result  of  the  first  naval  battle  ;  the 
whole  nation,  as  it  were,  drew  a  long  breath  of  anx 
ious  suspense.  There  were,  however,  some  honorable 
exceptions  to  the  general  feeling  of  doubt  on  the  sub 
ject;  there  was  a  little  band  of  nautical  men,  whose  self- 
reliance  never  wavered,  and  whose  hearts  beat  high 
with  ardent  desire  to  wipe  off  the  stain  of  the  attack  on 
the  Chesapeake,  and  other  numerous  wrongs  and  insults 
so  long  endured,  that  almost  every  seaman,  to  a  man, 
throughout  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  the  United 
States,  panted  for  revenge,  and  they  only  wished  for  an 
opportunity  to  meet  the  foe  upon  equal  terms.  Every 
body  knew  of  Captain  Hull's  escape  from  the  British 
fleet,  and  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  country 
knew  he  had  gone  to  sea  again  to  pick  a  quarrel  with 
the  first  English  frigate  he  could  meet  with,  and  as  this 
was  not  long  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the 
honor  of  the  whole  nation  seemed  involved  in  the  result 
of  the  first  naval  battle.  Hundreds  were  running  to  the 
Post-office  to  catch  the  first  news  from  the  frigate  Con 
stitution.  The  present  generation  cannot  conceive  of 
the  intense  feeling  of  anxiety  that  pervaded  the  public 
mind  at  that  period.  The  writer  of  these  pages  was  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  soon  after  the  affair  of  the  Constitu 
tion  and  Guerriere,  when  a  patriotic  lady  of  that  city, 
in  describing  her  feelings  of  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  the 
Constitution  after  leaving  Boston,  she  told  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  present,  that  her  heart  beat  pit-a-pat  so 
loud  that  every  one  could  have  heard  it  quite  across 


1312.] 


'HE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


the  room  ;  and  such  was  the  inspiring  love  of  country, 
that  old  and  young  partook  of  the  same  patriotic  enthu 
siasm  ;  how  then  can  it  astonish  any  one  that  victory 
succeeded  victory,  whenever  our  ships  met  the  enemy 
with  anything  like  equal  force  ? 

The  reader  will  observe,  that  I  have  brought  the 
cruise  of  the  Constitution  down  to  the  clay  before  the 
action  between  the  two  frigates.  I  will  here  insert  the 
following  information  supplied  me  by  Capt.  William  B. 
Orne,*  (who  was  on  board  the  Guerriere  during  the 
action),  extracted  from  his  own  private  journal,  which 
commences  thus  :— 

"  I  commanded  the  American  brig  Betsey,  in  the  year 
1812,  and  was  returning  home  from  Naples,  Italy,  to 
Boston.  When  near  the  western  edge  of  the  Grand 
Bank  of  Newfoundland,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1812,  I 
fell  in  with  the  British  frigate  Guerriere,  Captain  Da- 
cres,  and  was  captured  by  him.  Myself  and  a  boy  wrere 
taken  on  board  of  the  frigate  ;  the  remainder  of  my 
officers  and  men  were  left  in  the  Betsey,  and  sent  into 
Halifax,  N.  S.,  as  a  prize  to  the  Guerriere.  On  the  19th 
of  the  same  month,  when  in  latitude  41  °  41'  North,  longi 
tude  about  55°  40'  West,  the  wind  being  fresh  from  the 
northward,  the  Guerriere  was  under  double-reefed  top 
sails  during  all  the  forenoon  of  this  day.  At  two  p.  M., 
we  discovered  a  large  sail  to  windward,  bearing  about 
North  from  us.  We  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate. 
She  was  steering  off  from  the  wind,  with  her  head  to 
the  Southwest,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  cutting 
us  off  as  soon  as  possible.  Signals  were  soon  made  by 


o  Captain  Orne,  at  this  time,  May  the  1st,  1856,  is  still  living  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  is  highly  esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  who  know  him. 
He  is  considered  a  man  of  truth  and  veracity,  and*  his  naked  word  is  as  good 
ns  his  sealed  bond. 


26  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

the  Guerriere,  but  as  they  were  not  answered,  the  con 
clusion  of  course  was,  that  she  was  either  a  French  or 
an  American  frigate.  Captain  Dacres  appeared  anxious 
to  ascertain  her  character,  and  after  looking  at  her  for 
that  purpose,  handed  me  his  spy-glass,  requesting  me  to 
give  him  my  opinion  of  the  stranger.  I  soon  saw  from 
the  peculiarity  of  her  sails,  and  from  her  general  ap 
pearance,  that  she  was,  without  doubt,  an  American 
frigate,  and  communicated  the  same  to  Captain  Dacres. 
He  immediately  replied,  that  he  thought  she  came  down 
too  boldly  for  an  American,  but  soon  after  added  :  '  The 
better  he  behaves,  the  more  honor  we  shall  gain  by 
taking  him.7 

il  The  two  ships  were  rapidly  approaching  each  other, 
when  the  Guerriere  backed  her  main-topsail,  and  waited 
for  her  opponent  to  come  down,  and  commence  the 
action.  He  then  set  an  English  flag  at  each  mast-head, 
beat  to  quarters,  and  made  ready  for  the  fight.  When 
the  strange  frigate  came  down  to  within  two  or  three 
miles  distance,  he  hauled  upon  the  wind,  took  in  all  his 
light  sails,  reefed  his  topsails,  and  deliberately  prepared 
for  action.  It  was  now  about  five  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  when  he  filled  away  and  ran  down  for  the  Guer 
riere.  At  this  moment,  Captain  Dacres  politely  said  to 
me :  '  Captain  Orne,  as  I  suppose  you  do  not  wish  to 
fight  against  your  own  countrymen,  you  are  at  liberty 
to  go  below  the  water-line.'  It  was  not  long  after  this 
before  I  retired  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  cock-pit ; 
of  course  I  saw  no  more  of  the  action  until  the  firing 
ceased,  but  I  heard  and  felt  much  of  its  effects  ;  for  soon 
after  I  left  the  deck,  the  firing  commenced  on  board 
the  Guerriere,  and  was  kept  up  almost  constantly  until 
about  six  o'clock,  when  I  heard  a  tremendous  explosion 
from  the  opposing  frigate.  The  effect  of  her  shot  seemed 


;        » 


>£ 


<K*WS!$ 


2:  to 

O  3 

—  <cy 

=  4 


CO        ,rf; 


«      S 

JC      r^ 

ri 

c     ° 

OJ 

<u 

$ 

OJ 
_Q 


f- 

^ 
t3Q 


MR 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  27 

to  make  the  Guerriere  reel,  and  tremble  as  though  she 
had  received  the  shock  of  an  earthquake.  Immediately 
after  this,  I  heard  a  tremendous  crash  on  deck,  and  was 
told  the  loizzen-mast  was  shot  away.  In  a  few  moments 
afterward,  the  cock-pit  was  filled  with  wounded  men. 
At  about  half-past  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  the 
firing  had  ceased,  I  went  on  deck,  and  there  beheld  a 
scene  which  it  would  be  difficult  to  describe  :  all  the 
Guerriere's  masts  were  shot  away,  and  as  she  had  no 
sails  to  steady  her,  she  lay  rolling  like  a  log  in  the  trough 
of  the  sea.  Many  of  the  men  were  employed  in  throw 
ing  the  dead  overboard.  The  decks  were  covered  with 
blood,  and  had  the  appearance  of  a  butcher's  slaughter 
house  ;  the  gun  tackles  were  not  made  fast,  and  several 
of  the  guns  got  loose,  and  were  surging  to  and  fro  from 
one  side  to  the  other. 

"  Some  of  the  petty  officers  and  seamen,  after  the  action, 
got  liquor,  and  were  intoxicated  ;  and  what  with  the 
groans  of  the  wounded,  the  noise  and  confusion  of  the 
enraged  survivors  on  board  of  the  ill-fated  ship,  rendered 
the  whole  scene  a  perfect  hell." 

After  having  related  Captain  Orne's  statement  of  the 
battle,  I  will  now  proceed  to  give  Captain  Hull's  account 
of  the  action,  with  a  few  additional  incidents  and  remarks, 
which  the  gallant  Commodore  was  too  modest  to  insert 
in  his  official  report.  He  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  that  on  the  19th  of  August,  1812,  being  in  lati 
tude  41°  41'  North,  longitude  55°  48'  West,  at  two 
P.M.,  a  sail  was  discovered  from  the  mast-head,  bear 
ing  from  him  E.S.E.,  but  at  so  great  a  distance  he 
could  not  tell  what  she  was.  All  sail  was  however  im 
mediately  made  in  chase,  and  he  soon  found  he  gained 
upon  her  ;  at  three  P.M.  could  plainly  see  that  she  was  a 
ship  under  easy  sail,  standing  close  upon  the  wind  on  the 


28  THE    AMERICAN    PK1VATEBRS.  [1812 

starboard  tack ;  at  half-past  three  made  her  out  to  be  a 
frigate.  He  continued  the  chase  until  within  about  three 
miles  distance  to  windward  of  the  enemy.  Captain 
Hull  then  hauled  to  the  wind,  and  deliberately  took  in 
all  his  light  sails,  and  prepared  for  action  ;  he  also  took  a 
second  reef  in  his  topsails,  as  the  wind  was  blowing  fresh 
from  the  northward  ;  he  then  sent  down  royal-yards, 
hauled  up  his  courses,  cleared  ship,  and  beat  to  quarters. 
At  this  time  the  chase  lay  with  her  main-topsail  aback, 
evidently  waiting  for  the  American  frigate  to  come  down 
to  commence  the  action. 

At  five  P.M.  the  Guerriere  hoisted  an  English  ensign 
at  each  mast-head,  when  the  Constitution  set  her  colors, 
bore  up  and  ran  to  leeward  in  order  to  close  in  with  the 
enemy  to  the  best  advantage.  As  the  Constitution  neared 
the  Guerriere,  say  when  within  long-gun  shot,  the  latter 
ship  opened  her  fire,  wearing  and  yawing  about  to 
rake  and  prevent  being  raked.  The  first  two  broadsides 
fired  from  the  Englishman,  however,  were  at  so  great  a 
distance  that  little  or  no  damage  was  received  by  the 
American  frigate. 

Up  to  this  time,  Captain  Hull  had  reserved  his  fire, 
all  his  guns  being  double-shotted,  that  is  to  say  with 
one  round  shot  and  a  canister  of  grape.  At  six  in  the 
evening,  the  English  frigate  bore  up,  and  ran  off  the 
wind  under  her  three  topsails  and  jib,  with  the  wind  on 
the  quarter,  to  invite  his  adversary  to  a  combat  at  close 
quarters.  Immediately  after  this,  say  at  a  quarter  after 
six,  the  Constitution  set  her  main-top-gallant-sail  and 
fore-sail,  to  range  along  side  and  close  in  with  the  enemy. 

As  she  approached  the  Guerriere,  that  ship  hulled  the 
Constitution  several  times,  and  killed  or  wounded  a  few 
men.  At  this  period  Mr.  Morris,  Captain  Hull's  first 
Lieutenant,  came  aft  on  the  quarter-deck  (where  Captain 


1812.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  29 

Hull  was  walking,  and  attentively  observing  every  move 
ment  of  his  adversary),  and  inquired  of  his  commander 
whether  he  should  not  return  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  He 
said  the  men  were  very  eager  to  fire,  and  that  it  was 
difficult  to  restrain  their  ardent  desire  to  commence  the 
action.  His  answer  to  his  Lieutenant  was,  not  to 
fire  till  he  gave  the  order,  or  in  plainer  English,  "Mr. 
Morris  I'll  tell  you  when  to  fire,  therefore  stand  ready, 
and  see  that  not  a  shot  is  thrown,  away."  At  this  mo 
ment  the  naval  hero  was  watching  the  exact  position  ol 
the  two  ships,  and  as  the  Constitution  gradually  ranged 
up  within  half  pistol  shot,  and  began  to  double  on  the 
quarter  of  his  opponent,  Captain  Hull  peremptorily  or 
dered  Mr.  Morris  to  give  him  the  first  division.  "  The 
next,  sir,  pour  in  the  whole  broadside,'''  was  the  reiterated 
order.  He  saw  the  effect  of  this  terrible  broadside,  and 
at  the  same  moment  exclaimed  to  those  about  him,  "  by 
Heavens  that  ship  is  ours." 

As  the  two  frigates  now  lay  nearly  abreast  of  each 
other,  they  both  kept  up  a  constant  cannonading  for 
about  ten  minutes,  when  the  mizzen-mast  of  the  English 
man  was  shot  away  not  far  above  the  deck.  The  Cqn-% 
stitution  still  continued  to  range  slowly  ahead  of  his 
adversary,  keeping  up  a  tremendous  fire.  She  then 
luffed  short  round  the  bows  of  the  Guerriere  to  prevent 
being  raked,  when  unfortunately,  in  executing  this  man 
oeuvre,  she  shot  into  the  wind,  got  stern-way  upon  her, 
and  fell  foul  of  her  antagonist,  so  that  the  Guerriere "s 
bowsprit  came  in  contact  with  the  mizzen  shrouds  of  the 
American  frigate.  In  this  situation  both  parties  pre 
pared  to  board,  but  as  each  ship  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry,  while  they  were  in  collision,  Lieutenant  .Mor 
ris.  Mr.  Alwyn,  the  sailing-master,  Mr.  Bush,  the  marine 
officer,  and  others,  sprang  upon  the  taffrail  to  board  or 


30  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

repel  boarders.  Several  of  them  were  shot.  Mr.  Morris 
received  a  musket  ball  in  the  abdomen,  but  remained  at 
his  post.  Mr.  Bush  fell  dead  by  a  musket  ball  passing 
through  his  head,  and  Mr.  Alwyn  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  At  this  moment  there  was  considerable  sea 
on,  when  the  fore  and  main  masts  of  the  English  frigate 
went  by  the  board,  leaving  the  Guerriere  a  helpless 
wreck,  wallowing  in  the  trough  of  the  sea. 

The  two  ships  soon. separated,  when  the  Constitution 
at  once  made  sail,  hauling  on  board  her  fore  and  main 
tacks,  and  ran  off  a  short  distance  to  windward,  when  she 
rove  new  braces,  and  cleared  ship  to  renew  the  action. 

The  Guerriere  having  the  stump  of  the  mizzen-mast 
still  standing,  hoisted  upon  it  an  English  jack,  and  when 
Captain  Dacres  saw  his  adversary  preparing  to  come 
down  athwart  his  bows  to  give  him  the  raking  coup-de- 
grace,  he  very  wisely  hauled  down  his  flag,  and  sur 
rendered  to  the  frigate.  Thus  ended  the  first  naval  battle 
of  any  consequence  in  the  war  of  1812;  but  which  was 
the  prelude  to  many  other  glorious  victories. 

After  the  ilag  was  struck,  Captain  Hull  sent  Mr.  Reid, 
his  third  Lieutenant,  on  board  the  prize  to  ascertain  what 
ship  it  was,  when  the  boat  was  immediately  sent  back 
to  report  that  the  captured  ship  was  the  Guerriere, 
38,  Captain  James  R.  Dacres,  one  of  the  frigates  that 
had  so  lately  chased  the  Constitution  off  ]STew  York. 

Captain  Hull  remained  near  his  prize  during  the  night 
to  watch  over  her  safety.  The  next  morning  at  daylight, 
the  officer  in  charge  of  the  prize  hailed  to  say,  that  the 
Guerriere  had  four  feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  that  there 
was  much  danger  of  her  sinking.  Consequently,  the  first 
thing  to  be  done  was, to  remove  all  the  wounded  prisoners 
to  the  Constitution  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the  first  im 
pulse  of  a  l»iave  man,  after  the  battle  is  over,  is  to  com- 


1812.]  TITE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  31 

fort  and  soothe  the  wounded  and  the  dying.  Captain 
Hull  accordingly  sent  all  his  boats,  and  commenced  trans 
porting  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Guerriere  to  his  own 
ship,  and,  as  the  weather  had  now  become  moderate,  by 
noon  on  the  20th  this  duty  was  accomplished.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  prize  crew  was  recalled,having 
previously  set  the  wreck  on  fire,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  after  she  blew  up. 

The  disparity  between  the  two  ships  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  almost  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  naval 
battles,  and  was  by  the  official  accounts  as  follows  :  - 
The  loss  of  the  Guerriere  in  killed  was  15  ;  missing,  24  ; 
wounded,  62.  Total  killed  and  wounded,  and  missing,  101. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  7  killed  and 
7  wounded. 

REMARKS  ON  THIS  IMPORTANT  ACTION. 

Captain  Dacres  was  the  son  of  a  British  Admiral,  and 
no  doubt  a  brave,  highminded,  honorable  man,  but  un 
fortunately  for  him,  he  made  three  grand  mistakes  in 
this  affair.  The  first  was,  in  holding  his  enemy  too 
cheap,  a  very  common  fault  among  his  countrymen,  even 
down  to  the  present  day.  Witness  the  attack  of  the 
British  light-cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Balaklava.  The 
second  error  was,  in  boasting,  before  the  battle.  Had 
he  remembered  the  injunction  of  the  infallible  old  book, 
"Let- not  him  that  girdetli  on  his  armor  boast  himself  as  he 
that  putteth  it  off/7  it  would,  doubtless,  have  saved  him 
much  pain  and  mortification  throughout  his  after  life. 
The  third  mistake  was,  in  firing  too  soon,  for  it  is  agreed 
on  all  hands,  that  he  threw  away  two  entire  broadsides. 
This  last  mistake  evinced  a  great  want  of  cool,  deliber 
ate  judgment. 

On  the  part  of  Captain  Hull,  I  should  say,  as  a  nautical 


32  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS,  _1812. 

man,  he  also  made  one  mistake  in  allowing  the  Consti 
tution  to  get  into  the  wind,  and,  consequently  making  a 
stern-board,  she  should  have  been  kept  under  good  steer 
age-way,  for  under  some  circumstances  this  getting  foul 
of  the  enemy  might  have  involved  the  safety  of  his  ship. 
I  will  not,  however,  judge  too  severely,  perhaps  it  was 
unavoidable.  The  wrheel-ropes  might  have  been  injured, 
or  some  other  cause  connected  with  the  steering  of  the 
ship  may  have  occurred,  which  has  not  been  related  in 
the  official  account  of  the  action. 

With  respect  to  the  relative  size  of  the  two  ships, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Constitution  was  the 
heavier,  and  that  the  weight  of  metal  was  also  in  favor 
of  the  American  frigate.  Still,  under  these  circumstan 
ces,  it  would  not  have  made  a  shade  of  difference  if  the 
Guerriere's  main-deck  guns  had  been  twenty-fours  in 
lieu  of  eighteens. 

It  matters  not  how  large  a  shot  may  be,  if  it  is  badly 
directed  and  thrown  into  the  water,  or,  the  gun  so 
elevated  as  to  have  the  shot  pass  through  the  upper  air, 
or  the  lofty  sails  of  the  enemy.  It  will  be  observed, 
that  Captain  Hull  received  the  random  shot  of  his  ad 
versary  as  he  closed  in  with  him.  He,  no  doubt,  expected 
to  suffer  some  damage  before  he  should,  as  it  were,  crush 
his  enemy,  for  it  will  be  recollected,  his  guns  were  all 
double-shotted,  viz.,  with  round  grape  and  canister, 
and  as  soon  as  he  poured  in  the  first  destructive  broad 
side  he  saw  that  the  game  was  his,  and,  that  he  had 
given  the  Guerriere  a  death  blow. 

Hair-splitting  casuists  may  weigh  straws  and  solve 
probable  results,  and  cavil  about  the  great  disparity  of 
the  two  ships,  but  the  common  sense  conclusion  is,  that 
the  English  had  met  a  new  enemy  in  the  American  sea 
men,  and  were  disappointed  and  confounded  ;  ihey 


'812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  33 

found  the  American  officers  and   men    fully  equal  in 
bravery  and  seamanship  to  themselves. 

They  had  for  years  been  accustomed  to  vanquish  the 
French  and  Spanish  ships-of-war,  by  their  superior  skill 
in  sailing  and  manoeuvring  their  ships  :  not  that  they  ex 
celled  the  French  in  bravery,  for  there  is  no  braver 
people  on  the  face  of  the  earth  :  neither  can  the  English 
excel  them  in  gunnery,  for  they  are  great  cannoneers, 
and  can  vie  with  them  in  everything  pertaining  to  war, 
except  practical  seamanship.  It  had  long  been  the  cus 
tom  with  the  English,  in  their  engagements  with  the 
French  and  Spanish,  both  in  fleets  and  with  single  ships, 
as  they  approached  their  adversaries,  to  fire  a  gun  or 
two  as  feelers,  to  ascertain  whether  they  were  near 
enough  for  their  shot  to  take  effect,  and  then  manoeu 
vre  so  as  to  rake  their  enemy,  and  gain  the  victory  with 
but  little  loss  to  themselves.  It  is  therefore  more  than 
probable,  that  Captain  Dacres  acted  on  the  same  old  prin 
ciple  with  the  Constitution,  not  dreaming  that  she  would 
so  soon  close  in  with  him,  with  a  determination  to  con 
quer  or  sink. 

From  the  commencement  to  the  end  of  the  war,  the 
same  practice  and  determination  were  carried  out  with 
all  our  ships-of-war.  The  old-fashioned  way  of  playing 
at  long  balls,  for  several  hours  with  their  enemy,  does 
not  suit  the  nature  or  taste  of  the  Americans.  They 
make  up  their  minds  on  a  subject,  and  then,  to  use  a 
familiar  phrase,  "  go-ahead,"  regardless  of  consequences. 
And  so  it  will  ever  be  with  republicans,  each  individual 
feels  as  though  the  honor  of  the  flag  and  of  the  country 
rested  upon  his  shoulders  ;  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  ;  is  fighting  for  the  land  that  gave  him 
birth,  and  not  for  a  tyrannical  master,  who  has  no  feel 
ings  in  common  with  him. 


3^  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

The  American  seamen  in  this  trial  of  strength,  and  in 
most  other  naval  battles  during  the  war,  went  into  action 
dancing  at  their  guns,  and  telling  their  officers,  "  Gentle- 
men,  you  take  care  of  the  flags  and  the  quarter-deck, 
and  we  will  do  the  fighting." 

Captain  Hull,  finding  his  ship  filled  with  prisoners, 
many  of  whom  were  suffering  from  their  wounds,  made 
sail  for  Boston,  where  he  arrived  on  the  30th  of  the 
month,  after  a  cruise  of  just  twenty-eight  days. 

On  his  return  to  Boston,  after  his  glorious  victory,  and 
destruction  of  the  Guerriere,  he  was  welcomed  with  heart 
felt  joy  by  all  classes  of  people.  An  artillery  company 
was  posted  on  the  wharf,  and  greeted  him  with  a  federal 
salute,  which  was  returned  by  the  Constitution. 

An  immense  number  of  citizens  received  him  with 
,  loud  and  unanimous  huzzas  in  every  part  of  the  city.  The 
principal  streets  were  beautifully  decorated  with  Ameri 
can  flags,  and  men  of  all  ranks  and  distinctions  appeared 
to  vie  with  each  other  to  do  him  honor.  A  splendid  en 
tertainment  was  given  by  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  to 
Captain  Hull  and  the  brave  officers  belonging  to  his 
whip.  The  citizens  of  New  York  raised  a  sum  of  money 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  swords,  which  were  to  be 
present3d  to  him  and  his  gallant  officers.  The  people 
of  Philadelphia  also  subscribed  funds  to  purchase  two 
superb  pieces  of  plate  to  be  given  to  the  naval  hero  and 
his  first  Lieutenant,  the  gallant  Morris.  In  Baltimore 
the  flags  of  all  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  were  displayed 
in  honor  of  Captain  Hull's  victory  over  the  Guerriere, 
and  a  grand  salute  fired.  In  fine,  the  whole  country  was 
electrified,  and  the  out-ire  heart  of  the  Nation  beat  high 
ii  his  praise. 


CHAPTER    II. 

LIST  OP  FRIGATES  FIT  FOR  SEA— FIRST  BRITISH  SHIP  CAPTURED  AND  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK 

CAPTURE    OF  THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT  SCHOONER  WHITING — COMBAT  BETWEEN  THE 

LETTER-OF- MARQUE-SCHOONER  FALCON  AND  THE  BRITISH  CUTTER  HERO — SIXTY-FIVE 
PRIVATEERS  AND  LETTERS-OF- MARQUE  AT  SEA  ON  THE  HJTH  OF  JULY,  1812 — FOUR 
PRIVATEERS  LEAVE  THE  CAPES  OF  THE  DELAWARE  ON  THE  20rfH  OF  JULY — PRIZES 
ARRIVING  ALMOST  DAILY  IN  THE  ATLANTIC  PORTS — SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  OF  THE  PRIVA- 
TEER-SCHOONER»FAME,  OF  SALEM — CAPTURE  OF  A  BRITISH  TRANSPORT  BRIG.  SENT  INTO 
GLOUCESTER — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  SLOOP  POLLY  FROM  THE  ENGLISH  SLOCP-OF 
WAR  INDIAN— CAPTURE  OF  TH  E  SHIP  MARGARET  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  TEAZER— EXTRACT 
FROM  A  LONDON  NEWSPAPER— BRITISH  BRIG  LEONIDAS  SENT  INTO  SAVANNAH  BY  THE 
MARS — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  S.  CLARK  BY  THE  GLOBE,  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — 
PRIVATEER  JOHN  RETURNS  TO  SALEM,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE-  COMMODORE  BARNEY 
ARRIVES  AT  NEWPORT  IN  THE  ROSSIE,  ON  THE  30TH  OF  AUGUST.  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL 
CRUISE— A  SEVERE  FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  SHADOW  AND  BRITISH  SHIP  MARY — 
BRITISH  SHIP  QUEBEC  CAPTURED  BY  THE  SARATOGA — CHASE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  JACK'S 
FAVORITE  BY  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  SUBTLE,  AND  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  LATTER. 

WHEN  I  commenced  writing  the  history  of  the  pri 
vateers  and  letters-of-marque,  it  was  not  my  intention 
to  enter  deeply  into  the  exploits  and  achievements  of 
our  gallant  little  navy,  either  on  the  broad  ocean  or  on 
our  extensive  lakes,  but  merely  to  intersperse  my  book 
with  a  few  of  the  most  brilliant  combats  between  single 
ships.  But,  as  I  advance,  I  find  the  two  subjects  so  in 
timately  connected,  that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  I  am 
able  to  proceed  without  giving  a  sketch,  or  short  outline 
of  the  war. 

In  following  up  the  chain  of  events  from  its  com 
mencement,  it  will  be  necessary  to  insert  here  a  list 
of  the  American  frigates,  that  were  well-manned  and 
efficient,  when  the  war  was  declared,  on  the  18th  of 
June,  1812. 

(35) 


36  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [18.12 


Constellation,         .  .38  Guns 

Chesapeake,      .        .        .        38     " 
Essex,   ....  '.S3 


Constitution,  .  .     44  Guns. 

President,          ...         44       " 

United  States,       .        .  .    44       " 
Congress,  ....        38       '' 


Beside  the  above  seven  frigates,  there  were  s 
twelve  or  fifteen  sloops-of-war  and  small  or  vessels,  lying 
in  the  naval  dockyards.  Some  of  these  ships  were  re 
pairing,  others  unseaworthy,  and  not  fit  for  present  ser 
vice.  Consequently,  it  followed  that  the  before-named 
seven  frigates  were  left  to  contend  with  the  whole  British 
navy,  amounting  in  number,  at  that  period,  to  one  thou 
sand  and  sixty  sail,* eight  hundred  of  which  were  effi 
cient  cruising  ships,  and  a  large  portion  of  them 
at  sea. 

Against  such  an  overwhelming  disparity  of  numbers, 
while  numerous  merchant-vessels  were  spread  over  al 
most  every  sea,  what  was  the  best  policy  for  the  Ameri 
can  government  to  pursue  ?  The  question  is  easily 
answered.  Send  these  frigates  immediately  to  sea  to 
protect  our  own  merchant-ships,  and  order  them  to  take, 
burn,  sink,  and  destroy  the  enemy,  wherever  he  should 
be  found.  Also,  tell  them  that  if  they  meet  a  man-of- 
war  of  equal  or  even  superior  force,  should  the  disparity 
not  be  too  great,  to  attack  him  forthwith,  regardless  of 
consequences. 

For  the  result  of  such  a  determination,  I  refer  the 
reader  to  Cooper's  Naval  History,  arid  to  the  official  gov 
ernment  documents  on  that  subject. 

After  these  remarks  respecting  the  United  States7 
navy,  I  will  go  on  to  record  the  daring  exploits  of  the 
privateers  and  letters-of-marque. 

Before  I  commence  with  the  prizes  made  by  the  pri- 

v  The  British  Government  publishes  annually  a  list  of  its  whole  rmvy  with  a  particular  dencrip- 
tion  of  the,  ships  composing  it,  commencing  with  a  flrst-ratc,  Carrying  120  guns,  down  to  the  cutter 
or  4.  with  all  (ho  intermediate  rates.  I  refer  the  re?«ler  to  Steel's  List  of  the  Royal  Js'avy,  for  the 
years  181 1  and  '12,  as  my  authority,  and  also  to  Fenimori*  Coopor's  Rittory  of  the  United  States 
Nayy  of  the  same  date. 


1812.J 


T11H    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  37 


vateers,  I  will  just  stop  to  notice  that  the  first  English 
merchantman  captured,  was  a  British  ship  from  Jamaica, 
bound  to  London  (she  was  probably  taken  off  Cape 
Hatteras),  and  sent  into  Norfolk  by  a  revenue  cutter. 
This  occurred  about  the  1st  of  July,  say  twelve  days 
after  the  declaration  of  war. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  the  British  government  schooner 
Whiting,  Lieut.  Maxey,  with  despatches  from  his  govern 
ment  to  the  government  of  the  United  States,  was  taken 
while  lying  in  Hampton  Roads  (he  not  having  heard  of 
the  war),  without  resistance,  by  the  privateer  Dash,  of 
Baltimore,  Captniri  Carroway.  The  Dash,  at  this  time, 
was  ready  for  sea.  and  bound  on  a  cruise  for  British 
merchantmen. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  the  letter-of-marque  schooner 
Falcon,  belonging  to  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  from  Bos 
ton  to  Bordeaux,  with  four  guns  and  sixteen  men,  when 
on  the  coast  of  France,  was  engaged  with  the  British  cut 
ter  Hero,  with  five  guns  and  fifty  men  for  two  hours  and 
a-half,  and  finally  beat  her  off,  with  considerable  loss  on 
both  sides,  after  repulsing  the  enemy  three  times  in  his 
attempts  to  board.  On  the  next  day,  the  Falcon  was 
attacked  by  a  British  privateer  of  six  guns  and  forty 
men,  and  although  considerably  injured  by  her  engage 
ment  with  the  cutter  the  day  previous,  the  privateer 
commenced  a  heavy  fire  on  the  Falcon,  which  she 
bravely  returned  for  an  hour  and  a-half,  when  the 
captain  and  several  of  the  crew  of  the  Falcon  being 
wounded,  she  was  carried  by  boarding,  while  her  colors 
were  still  flying.  They  were  carried  into  Guernsey, 
where  the  wounded  were  taken  on  shore. 

I  find  the  following  in  a  New  York  paper,  dated  July 
1.4th  :  "We  believe  that  in  sixty  days  from  the  day  on 
which  war  against  England  was  declared,  there  will  be 


38  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

afloat  from  the  United  States  not  less  than  one  hundred 
privateers,  carrying  upon  an  average  six  guns  and 
seventy-five  men.  If  these  are  successful,  their  number 
will  probably  be  doubled  in  a  short  time.  At  any  rate, 
sixty-five  were  at  sea  on  the  16th,  and  many  others  are 
probably  out  from  different  ports  which  have  not  been 
reported. 

"Philadelphia,  July  the  20^.— -This  day  four  priva 
teers  of  considerable  force  left  the  capes  of  the  Delaware 
on  a  cruise,  and  others  are  preparing  to  follow.  In  the 
latter  part  of  this  month,  prizes  were  almost  daily  pour 
ing  into  most  of  the  Atlantic  ports." 

PRIZES  TAKEN  BY  PRIVATEERS  DURING  THE  MONTH  OF  JULY. 

The  privateer  Paul  Jones,  of  New  York,  captured  the 
British  brig  Ulysses  from  the  West  Indies  for  Halifax, 
and  sent  her  into  Norfolk. 

The  letter-of-marque  Gypsey  of  New  York  for  Bor 
deaux,  was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser,  and  retaken  by 
her  crew  and  carried  safely  into  France. 

SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE. — "  Salem,  July\Qth. — Last  even 
ing  the  privateei  schooner  Fame,  Captain  Webb,  re 
turned  to  port,  having  taken  a  ship  of  near  300  tons, 
loaded  with  square  timber,  and  a  brig  of  200  tons, 
loaded  with  tar.  The  ship  had  two  four-pounders,  but 
was  prevented  from  firing  or  making  any  defence  by  our 
boarding  her  so  suddenly." 

July  14^,  the  British  government  transport,  No. 
50,  having  two  guns,  musketry,  etc.,  with  twelve 
men,  prize  to  the  Madison  privateer,  was  sent  into 
Gloucester  ;  she  was  from  Halifax,  bound  to  St.  Johns. 
The  transport  was  under  convoy  of  the  Indian,  British 
sloop-of-war,  fait  observing  a  privateer  (supposed  to  be 
the  sloop  roily),  she  gave  chase  to  her,  and  while  she 


812  .l  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  39 

was  absent,  the  Madison  pounced  upon  the  transport 
and  took  her.  On  board  of  the  transport  were  found 
one  hundred  casks  of  gunpowder,  eight  hundred  and 
eighty  suits  of  uniform  for  the  104th  British  Regiment 
light  infantry,  some  bales  of  superfine  cloths  for  officer's 
uniforms,  ten  casks  of  wine,  drums,  trumpets,  and  other 
camp  equipage.  She  was  a  fine  brig,  290  tons  bur 
then,  and  with  her  cargo,  was  supposed  to  be  worth 
$50,000. 

Arrived  at  Salem,  July  15th  British  sloop  Endeavor, 
Newman,  of  Bermuda  from  Newfoundland,  bound  to  St. 
Andrews,  with  sugar,  prize  to  the  privateer-sloop  Polly, 
of  that  port.  The  prize-master  of  the  Endeavor  report 
ed  that  off  Cape  Sable,  the  Polly  and  Dolphin  privateers 
discovered  a  ship  and  brig  in  company,  both  of  which 
they  took  to  be  merchantmen,  and  their  determination 
was  in  the  first  place  to  board  the  ship,  but  having  pro 
ceeded  nearly  within  gun-shot  of  her,  discovered  she  was 
an  English  sloop-of-war  of  twenty-two  guns  (probably 
the  Indian),  when  she  immediately  crowded  all  sail  and 
stood  for  the  Polly,  firing  several  shots,  which,  however, 
did  not  reach  her.  It  afterwards  became  calm,  when 
the  sloop-of-war  manned  out  her  launch,  and  several 
boats,  with  about  forty  men ;  coming  within  musket-shot, 
she  gave  three  cheers,  and  commenced  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry  and  one  four-pound  cannon,  which  the  Polly 
immediately  returned  with  such  a  tremendous  fire  of 
musketry  and  langrage,  that  in  a  few  minutes  the  launch 
was  silenced  and  struck  her  colors,  and  the  other  boats 
were  glad  to  return  to  their  ship.  The  sloop-of-war  being 
nearly  within  gun-shot,  the  privateer  took  to  her  sweeps 
and  succeeded  in  making  her  escape. 

The  loss  of  the  Englishman  could  not  be  ascertained, 
but  it  must  have  been  severe.  The  launch  came  up  to 


40  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812, 

the  Polly  with  sixteen  sweeps — only  five  could  be  seen 
wl  en  she  returned  to  the  ship. 

The  sloop  sustained  no  injury !  The  brig  in  company 
was  the  transport  which  was  sent  into  Gloucester,  hav 
ing  been  captured  by  the  Madison,  while  the  sloop-of- 
war  was  in  chase  of  the  Polly. 

A  British  schooner  which  had  arrived  at  Amelia 
Island,  about  the  middle  of  July,  from  New  Providence, 
with  $20,000  specie  on  board  was  detained  by  the  re 
venue-cutter.  The  prizes  lately  made  in  that  neighbor 
hood  at  that  time,  were  of  great  value. 

The  privateer  Madison  of  Gloucester,  Mass.,  captured 
a  British  ship  of  twelve  guns.  Ten  or  twelve  prizes  had 
already  reached  Salem.  Seven  privateers  sailed  from 
Baltimore,  on  or  about  the  10th  of  July,  on  a  cruise. 
One  of  them,  the  schooner  Rossie,  was  commanded  by 
the  celebrated  Commodore  Barney.  Several  others 
were  fitting  out,  and  were  expected  to  sail  in  a  few  days. 

The  American  ship  Margaret,  on  her  passage  from 
Liverpool  to  the  United  States,  loaded  with  a  valuable 
cargo  of  salt,  earthenware,  and  ironmongery.  A  fine 
new  coppered  vessel  was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser, 
and  afterwards  recaptured  by  the  privateer  Teazer,  of 
New  York.  She  was  sent  to  Portland,  where  she  safely 
arrived.  The  ship  and  cargo  were  said  to  be  worth 
$50,000. 

A  British  brig,  four  schooners  and  a  shallop,  laden 
with  dry  goods,  were  sent  into  Salem,  prizes  to  the  pri 
vateers  Jefferson  and  Dolphin. 

Three  Nova  Scotia  shallops,  prizes  to  the  Lion  priva 
teer,  laden  with  West  India  produce,  and  also  a  few 
thousand  dollars,  arrived  at  Marblehead. 

The  Madison  also  captured  the  British  brig  Eliza, 
')f  six  guns,  after  a  sharp  engagement.  The  privateer 


1812.]  THK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  41 

had  but  one  gun  ;  she  had  two  men  wounded.  The 
captain  of  the  Eliza  was  badly  wounded. 

An  English  brig,  laden  with  sugar,  together  with  six 
or  seven  small  vessels  from  Eastport,  had  recently  been 
captured,  and  sent  into  various  eastern  ports. 

By  order  of  Governor  Mitchell,  of  Georgia,  seventeen 
English  vessels,  laden  with  timber  for  the  use  of  the 

o  ' 

British  navy,  were  captured  at  St.  Mary's  and  at  Amelia 
Island,  as  soon  as  he  knew  the  declaration  of  war. 

A  fine  English  brig  from  Liverpool,  bound  to  St. 
John's,  arrived  at  Marblehead,  a  prize  to  the  privateers 
Lion  and  Snow  Bird.  The  brig  had  six  guns,  but  made 
no  resistance. 

The  first  English  vessel  that  arrived  at  Baltimore  was 
on  the  26th  of  July,  viz.,  a  British  schooner,  loaded  with 
sugar,  a  prize  to  the  Dolphin.  Her  cargo  was  valued  at 
$18,000. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  BALTIMORE  PAPER,  DATED  JULY  13. 

"  We  are  pleased  to  observe  the  spirit  that  pre 
vails  in  the  eastern  States.  Though  England  has  many 
friends  in  that  region,  a  large  majority  of  the  people  are 
full  of  patriotism,  and  are  determined  to  carry  on  the 
war  with  enterprise  and  vigor,  knowing  that  the  more 
they  iistress  the  enemy,  the  sooner  we  shall  have  a  per 
manent  peace.  There  is  not,  perhaps,  one  port  in  the 
whole  of  the  eastern  States  where  they  have  not  one  or 
more  privateers,  and  the  most  of  them  have  sailed  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  We  believe  the  whole  number 
afloat  up  to  this  day  is  about  one  hundred." 

OPINION  OF  THE  ENGLISH  PRESS  ON  THE  WAR. 

I  herewith  insert  the  following  article  extracted  from 
the  London  Statesman  newspaper,  dated  June  the  10th 


42  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [181;... 

1812,  eight  days  previous  to  our  declaration  of  war 
against  England.  This  article  will  serve  to  show  that 
the  opposition  or  liberal  party  in  Britain  knew  something 
of  the  American  character,  while  the  Tory  aristocrac}^ 
were  not  only  blind  to  justice,  but  also  to  their  own  in 
terest  : 

"  It  has  been  stated,  that  in  a  war  with  this  country, 
America  has  nothing  to  gain.  In  opposition  to  this  as 
sertion  it  may  be  said,  with  equal  truth,  that  in  a  war 
with  America,  England  has  nothing  to  gain,  but  much  to 
lose.  Let  us  examine  the  relative  situation  of  the  two 
countries.  America  cannot  certainly  pretend  to  wage 
a  maritime  war  with  us.  She  has  no  navy  to  do  it  with. 
But  America  has  nearly  100,000  as  good  seamen  as  any 
in  the  world,  all  of  whom  would  be  actively  employed 
against  our  trade  on  every  part  of  the  ocean  in  their  fast- 
sailing  ships-of-war,  many  of  which  will  be  able  to  cope 
with  our  small  cruizers ;  and  they  will  be  found  to  be 
sweeping  the  West  India  seas,  and  even  carrying  deso 
lation  into  the  chops  of  the  channel.  Every  one  must 
recollect  what  they  did  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Ameri 
can  war.  The  books  at  Lloyd's  will  recount  it :  and  the 
rate  of  assurances  at  that  time  will  clearly  prove  what 
their  diminutive  strength  was  able  to  effect  in  the  face 
of  our  navy,  and  that,  when  nearly  one  hundred  pen 
dants  were  flying  on  their  coast.  Were  we  then  able  to 
prevent  their  going  in  and  out,  or  stop  them  from  taking 
our  trade  and  our  storeships,  even  in  sight  of  our  garri 
sons  ?  Besides,  were  they  not  in  the  English  and  Irish 
channels,  picking  up  our  homeward  bound  trade,  send 
ing  their  prizes  into  French  and  Spanish  ports,  to  the 
great  terror  and  annoyance  of  our  merchants  and  ship 
owners  ? 

11  These  are  facts  which  can  be  traced  to  a  period  when 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  43 

America  was  in  her  infancy,  without  ships,  without  sea 
men,  without  money,  and  at  a  time  when  our  navy  was 
not  much  less  in  strength  than  at  present.  The  Ameri 
cans  will  be  found  to  be  a  different  sort  of  enemy  by  sea 
than  the  French.  They  possess  nautical  knowledge,  with 
equal  enterprise  to  ourselves.  They  will  be  found  at 
tempting  deeds  which  a  Frenchman  would  never  think 
of  ;  and  they  will  have  all  the  ports  of  our  enemy  open, 
in  which  they  can  make  good  their  retreat  with  their 
booty.  In  a  predatory  war  on  commerce.  Great  Britain 
would  have  more  to  lose  than  to  gain,  because  the 
Americans  would  retire  within  themselves,  having  every 
thing  they  want  for  supplies,  and  what  foreign  commerce 
they  might  have,  would  be  carried  on  in  fast-sailing 
armed  ships,  which,  as  heretofore,  would  be  able  to 
fight  or  run  away,  as  best  suited  their  force  or  inclina 
tion.  Much  is  also  to  be  apprehended  from  the  deser 
tion  of  our  seamen,  who  will  meet  with  every  encour 
agement  in  the  United  States,  by  protecting  laws  made 
in  their  favor,  perhaps  large  douceurs  offered  for  their 
disaffection,  and  it  is  well  known  the  predilection  which 
our  sailors  have  for  the  American  shores.  These  are 
considerations  which  by  far  outweigh  any  advantages 
that  ought  partially  to  arise  to  individuals  from  a  few 
scattering  prizes  that  might  be  taken  by  our  cruizers. 
Their  harvest  seems  much  more  abundant  under  those 
wretched  and  impolitic  regulations^  called  the  Orders  in 
Council,  the  existence  of  which  gives  rise  to  the  present 
differences  between  the  two  countries,  has  drained  our 
treasury,  and  is  starving  thousands  of  our  manufactur 
ing  brethren.  America  could  sustain  no  possible  injury, 
but  internal  taxation,  from  a  war  with  this  country, 
which  would  not  bear  any  proportion  to  what  we  might 
feel  from  the  circumstances  already  mentioned,  and  from 


44  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

which  we  would  most  seriously  have  to  apprehend  ;  for 
our  ships,  without  a  large  military  force,  durst  not  enter 
the  ports  of  the  United  States,  and  that  military  force, 
in  our  present  situation,  is  nowhere  to  be  found.  The 
probable  consequence  would  be  the  starvation  of  our 
"West  India  colonies,  and  the  loss  of  Upper,  if  not  of 
Lower  Canada ;  while  the  total  want  of  specie  (which 
latterly  has  been  wholly  drawn  from  the  United  States) 
to  pay  our  troops  at  Halifax  and  Quebec,  could  not  fail 
to  accelerate  the  mischief." 


PRIZES  TAKEN  DURING  THE  MONTH  OF  AUGUST. 

The  British  vessel  Wabisch,  laden  with  timber,  and 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  privateer-schooner  Dolphin. 

Schooner  Ann  sent  into  Charleston,  by  the  privateer 
Nonpareil  of  that  place. 

Ship  Jarrett,  with  two  guns  and  eighteen  men,  in  bal 
last,  from  Bristol,  England,  for  St.  Andrews,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  that  port.  The  Fair 
Trader  had  one  gun  and  fifteen  mer.  The  Englishmen 
refused  to  fight,  and  four  of  them  entered  on  board  the 
privateer. 

Three  schooners  laden  with  pork,  wine,  furs,  cordage, 
etc.,  sent  into  Salem. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  Dolphin  of  Salem, 

and  released,  after,  taking  from  on  board  of  her  §1,000 
in  specie,  and  a  quantity  of  beaver  skins. 

Schooner  Ann  Kelly,  of  Halifax,  with  an  assorted 
cargo,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  same. 

Brig  from  St.  Andrews  for  England,  sent  into  Salern 
by  the  Dolphin. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Lion,  of 

..'d  port,  laden  with  lumber  and  naval  stores. 


812.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVAMUUS.  45 

Schooner  -  — ,  laden  with  sugar  and  indigo,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Argus  of  Boston. 

Schooner  Fanny,  from  St.  Croix  for  St.  Andrews,  in  bal 
last,  sent  into  Baltimore  by  the  Dorph in,  valued  at  $18,000. 

Ship  Mary,  from  Bristol,  England,  for  St.  John's  car 
rying  fourteen  heavy  guns,  a  variable  vessel,  having  on 
board  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition, 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dolphin. 

Schooner  -  — ,  laden  with  provisions,  sent  into  Wis- 
casset,  by  the  Fair  Trader. 

Schooner  Diligent,  with  fifty-live  pipes  of  brandy,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Polly. 

Two  schooners  with  cargoes  of  provisions,  pork,  corn, 
etc.,  sent  into  Salern  bjr  the  Snowbird,  of  that  place. 

Schooner  Jane,  from  the  West  Indies  for  Halifax,  sent 
into  Marblehead  by  the  Dolphin. 

Ship  Ann  Green,  of.  four  hundred  and  thirty  tons, 
carrying  eight  twelve-pounders,  and  two  long-sixes,  an 
excellent  vessel,  from  Jamaica  for  Greenock,  with  a 
cargo  of  rum,  etc.,  valued  at  $50,000,  sent  into  Boston 
by  the  Gossamer,  of  that  port. 

Barque  St.  Andrews,  carrying  eight  guns,  sent  into 
Portland,  by  the  Rapid  of  Boston. 

Schooner  Nelson,  laden  with  oil,  furs,  fish,  etc.,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Buckskin 

Schooner  -  — ,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  Fame. 

Schooner  Three  Brothers,  sent  into  Boston  by  the 
Wiley  Reynard,  of  that  port. 

Barque  -  — ,  sent  into  Portland,  by  the  Catherine  of 
Boston. 

Brig ,  In  ballast,  captured  by  the  Polly,  ransomed 

after  taking  out  a  few  bales  of  dry-goods. 

Schooner  Eliza,  of  Halifax,  from  Jamaica,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Polly. 


46  THE    AMERICAN    tfciVATEERS.  [1312, 

Brig  Lady  Sherbrook,  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  bur 
then,  armed  with  four  six-pounders,  laden  with  lumber 
and  fish,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Marengo  of  that 
port. 

Brig  Elizabeth  and  Esther,  from  St.  Johns,  for  Ber 
muda,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  pork,  and  some  dry  goods, 
sent  into  Philadelphia,  by  the  Governor  McKean  of 
Philadelphia. 

Brig  Ranger,  from  St.  Domingo  for  London,  carrying 
six  guns,  laden  with  coffee  and  logwood,  captuied  by 
the  Matilda  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent  into  that  port, 
after  a  short  engagement,  in  which  the  British  Captain 
was  mortally  wounded. 

Schooner  Polly,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Wiley  Rey 
nard. 

A  ship  and  two  brigs  sent  into  Wiscasset,  by  the 
Wiley  Reynard. 

Sloop  Mary  Ann,  laden  with  three  thousand  bushels 
of  salt,  sent  into  Philadelphia  by  the  Paul  Jones,  of 
New  York. 

Ship  Hassan,  of  London,  from  Gibraltar  for  Havana, 
carrying  14  guns,  and  twenty  men,  laden  with  wines, 
dry  goods,  etc.,  worth  $200,000,  captured  after  half  an 
hour's  combat,  with  the  loss  of  her  captain,  and  a  boy 
wounded,  by  the  Paul  Jones,  then  of  three  guns.  The 
guns  of  the  Hassan  were  transferred  to  the  privateer, 
and  the  vessel  ordered  for  Savannah. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Greenock  for  Quebec,  a  fine  ves 
sel,  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  burthen,  carrying  four 
heavy  guns,  laden  with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  sent 
into  New  York  by  the  Yankee,  of  Bristol,  R.  I. 

Brig,  -  — ,  captured  by  the  Yankee,  and  given  up  for 
the  purpose  of  disposing  of  her  prisoners. 

Ship    Braganza,  from  Port-au-Prince,    for    London, 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  47 

mounting  twelve  guns,  burthen  four  hundred  tons, 
deeply  laden  with  coffee  and  logwood,  captured  and  sent 
into  Baltimore  by  the  Tom  of  that  port,  after  a  running 
fight  of  fifty-five  minutes. 

Brig  Peter  Waldo,  from  Newcastle,  England,  for  Hali 
fax,  with  a  full  dkrgo  of  British  manufactures,  clearing 
for  the  captors  $100,000,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 
Teazer,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Prince  Adolphus.  from  Martinique  for  Falmouth, 
England,  mounting  eight  guns,  with  thirty-six  men, 
among  whom  were  the  Governor,  Collector,  and  "Post 
master  of  Demarara,  sent  into  "Philadelphia  by  the  Gov 
ernor  McKean,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Ceres,  a  valuable  vessel,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
John,  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  laden  with  timber,  taken  by  a  Salern  pri 
vateer,  recaptured  by  the  English,  and  retaken  and  sent 
into  Gloucester  by  a  Lynn  privateer. 

Brig  William,  from  Bristol,  England,  for  St.  Johns, 
with  a  cargo  of  coal,  butter  and  sundries,  sent  into  Bos 
ton  by  the  Rossie,  Commodore  Barney,  of  Baltimore. 

One  ship,  five  brigs  and  a  schooner,  all  laden  with 
fish  and  timber,  captured  by  the  Rossie  and  burned. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Scotland  for  Newfoundland,  captured 
by  the  Yankee  and  released,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners, 
forty-seven  in  number. 

Schooner  Venus,  with  one  hundred  and  nineteen  punch 
eons  of  rum,  a  quantity  of  sugar,  fruits,  etc.,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Teazer. 

Ship  Osborne,  ten  guns,  eighteen  pounders,  twenty- 
six  men,  from  Gibraltar  for  St.  Andrews,  in  ballast, 
burthen  five  hundred  tons,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 
Teazer,  after  a  long  fight,  in  which  no  person  on  either 
side  was  injured.  Tt  is  said  the  government  of  Nova. 


48  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

Scotia  offered  $30,000  for  the  Teazer.  This  priva 
teer  carried  only  two  guns,  and  at  the  time  she  captured 
the  Osborne,  had  not  thirty  men. 

Brig  Eliza,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  laden  with  rum 
and  sugar,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Marengo  of  that 
port. 

Brig  Richard,  three  hundred  tons,  laden  with  timber, 
sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Industry  of  Lynn. 

Brig  Nancy,  with  a  full  cargo  of  provisions,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  that  port. 

Brig  -  — ,  from  Quebec  for  the  West  Indies,  laden 
with  flour,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Bunker  Hill. 

Schooner  -  — ,  sent  into  Providence  by  the  Leander, 
of  Providence,  R.  I. 

Brig  Leonidas,  of  fourteen  guns ;  a  first-rate  vessel, 
from  Jamaica  for  Belfast,  laden  with  about  two  hundred 
and  thirty  hogsheads  of  sugar,  seventy-five  puncheons 
of  rum,  coffee,  pimento,  etc.,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the 
Mars,  of  Norfolk.  The  brig  was  carried  by  boarding 
after  a  short  resistance,  in  which  she  had  one  man 
wounded. 

Schooner  Skylark,  from  Quebec  for  Martinique,  laden 
with  provisions,  sent  into  the  port  of  New  York  by  the 
Bunker  Hill. 

Brig  Lady-Provost,  from  Halifax  for  Jamaica,  sent 
mto  New  York  by  the  Marengo. 

Brig  Friends,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Benjamin 
Franklin. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Pictou,  for  England,  sent  into  Bos 
ton  b}^  the  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Ship  Jenny,  twelve  guns,  arid  eighteen  men,  from 
Liverpool  for  St.  Johns,  with  salt,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
Rossie. 

Schooner  -    — -,  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  tons,  from 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  49 

Pointe-a-Pitre  for  Halifax,  a  very  valuable  vessel,  laden 
with  sugar  and  rurn,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer. 

DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER  BETWEEN    THE  PRIVATEER-BRIG  YANKEE 
AND  THE  BRITISH  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SHIP  ROYAL  BOUNTY.* 

The  privateer  Yankee  was  cruising  off  the  coast  of 
Nova  Scotia,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1812.  At  noon,  she 
saw  a  large  ship  on  her  lee  bow,  about  four  miles  dis 
tant,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase.  At  one  P.M.  she  pre 
pared  for  action.  The  privateer  being  to  windward,  she 
ran  down  on  the  ship's  weather-quarter,  and  gave  her 
the  first  division,  and  soon  after,  as  she  doubled  on  the 
enemy,  gave  her  the  entire  broadside. 

The  ship  soon  returned  the  compliment,  and  the  action 
was  continued  with  spirit  on  both  sides.  The  two  ves 
sels  being  near  each  other,  the  Yankee's  marines  poured 
a  continued  volume  from  her  small  arms,  which  was  very 
destructive  to  her  adversary. 

The  privateer's  shot  soon  cut  the  ship's  sails  and  rig 
ging  to  pieces,  and  killed  the  helmsman.  '  In  a  few  mo 
ments  after,  the  ship  became  unmanageable.  The  Yan 
kee  then  ran  off  a  short  distance  and  luffed-to  athwart 
the  bows  of  the  foe,  and  gave  him  a  raking  broadside, 
keeping  up  at  the  same  time  a  constant  shower  of  mus 
ketry,  which  soon  compelled  the  enemy  to  strike  his  colors. 

The  ship  proved  to  be  the  Royal  Bounty,  Captain 
Henry  Gambles.  She  was  a  fine  ship  of  658  tons, 
mounting  ten  guns,'  with  twenty-five  men.  She  was  from 
Hull,  in  ballast,  seven  weeks  out,  and  bound  to  Prince 
Edward's  Island.  The  privateer  took  out  the  prisoners, 
and  manned  the  prize  for  the  United  States. 

The  Yankee  had  three  men  wounded,  with  her  sails 
and  rigging  somewhat  damaged. 

*  See  Appendix. 

•      4 


50  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

The  Royal  Bounty  had  two  men  killed ;  the  captain 
and  six  officers  and  seamen  wounded. 

The  action  lasted  one  hour. 

The  ship  was  terribly  cut  up  in  her  sails  and  rigging. 
All  her  boats  were  stove,  and  more  than  one  hun'dred 
and  fifty  shot  of  different  sizes  passed  through  her  sails, 
or  lodged  in  her  hull  and  spars. 

The  wounded  prisoners  were  carefully  attended  by 
the  Yankee's  surgeon. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

One  brig  and  a  schooner  captured  by  the  Rossie,  and 
sent  to  Newfoundland,  with  the  crews  of  the  above  ves 
sels,  one  hundred  and  eight  in  number,  on  parole  and 
receipt  for  exchange. 

Commodore  Barney  sent  his  compliments  to  Admiral 
Sawyer,  desiring  the  poor  fellows  might  be  fairly  treated, 
and  promising  a  larger  supply  very  soon. 

Schooner  Perseverance,  from  St.  Augustine  for  Nas 
sau,  in  ballast,  -sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Nonsuch,  of 
Baltimore. 

Ship  Sir  Simon  Clark,  sixteen  guns,  thirty-nine  men, 
from  Jamaica  for  Leith,  with  a  cargo  of  sugar,  rum, 
coffee,  etc.,  worth  from  $100,000  to  $150,000,  sent  into 
Norfolk  by  the  Globe  ;  she  was  gallantly  carried  by  board 
ing,  after  a  brisk  cannonade  of  a  few  minutes. 

The  British  ship  had  four  men  killed,  with  the  Cap 
tain  and  three  others  severely  wounded.  The  second 
Lieutenant  and  drummer  were  killed  on  board  the  Globe, 
and  one  wounded. 

Brig  Honduras  Packet,  two  guns  and  twelve  men, 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  rum  and  dry-goods,  from  Ja 
maica  for  the  City  of  St.  Domingo,  sent  into  Charleston 
by  the  Mary  Ann  of  that  port. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  51 

Brig  Amelia,  ten  guns  and  seventeen  men,  from  Malta 
for  Havana,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  wine,  castile  soap, 
oil,  etc.,  etc,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Mary- Ann  car 
ried  but  one  gun  and  fifty  men. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Gonaives  for  Jamaica,  laden 
with  cotton,  captured  by  the  Mary  Ann,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  (armed)  after  a  smart  brush  taken 

by  the  Mary  Ann,  and  discharged  to  release  her  pris 
oners. 

Schooner  Union,  from  Jamaica  for  Quebec,  with  146 
puncheons  of  rum  ;  vessel  and  cargo  worth  $30,000, 
sent  intc  Salem  by  the  John,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Elizabeth,  from  Gibraltar  for  Quebec,  in  ballast, 
burthen  300  tons,  four  guns  and  twelve  men,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  John. 

Three  brigs,  laden  with  lumber,  taken  by  the  John 
and  released. 

A  schooner  and  a  sloop,  from  St.  Johns  for  Halifax, 
laden  with  lumber,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Orlando, 
of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  with  a  full  cargo 

of  rum,  sent  into  Charleston,  by  the  Bunker-Hill,  of 
New  York. 

Brig  James,  sent  into  Falmouth,  by  the  Bunker 
Hill. 

Ship  Apollo,  eight  guns,  burthen  400  tons,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  John. 

In  Long  Island  Sound,  a  deeply  laden  brig,  from  Ja 
maica,  prize  to  the  Teazer  privateer. 

A  schooner,  from  Jamaica,  with  160  puncheons  of 
rurn,  prize  to  the  John. 

The  John  had  taken  three  new  brigs,  bound  from 
Halifax  to  England,  laden  with  lumber.  Also  one  ship 
of  400  tons,  coppered,  in  ballast ;  having  eight  eighteens. 


52  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

The  John  was  left  in  chase  of  a  ship  from  England  of 
400  tons,  laden  with  dry  goods. 

Schooner  Sally,  of  Cape  Ann,  from  Cayenne,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  molasses,  was  sent  into  Newport  on  the  10th 
of  July,  by  a  privateer  belonging  to  that  place. 

The  privateer  ship  Alfred,  of  sixteen  guns  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty  men,  sailed  from  Salem  on  a  cruise 
the  16th  of  August. 

Philadelphia,  August  2Qth.—  "  The  privateer-schooner 
Shadow  is  below.  She  put  into  port  in  distress,  having 
been  damaged  in  an  action  with  a  letter-of-marque. 
Captain  Taylor  had  2  men  killed  and  12  wounded." 

Privateer  Globe,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  Hampton 
Roads,  accompanied  by  a  very  large  British  ship,  show 
ing  twenty-two  guns.  She  was  from  Jamaica,  bound 
for  Glasgow,  and  richly  laden.  The  ship  came  up  the 
bay,  and  the  Globe  proceeded  again  to  sea  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

Schooner  Ann,  another  prize  to  the  Globe,  carrying 
four  guns,  laden  with  logwood  and  mahogany,  arrived 
at  Baltimore.  It  is  stated  that  several  of  the  crews  of 
these  prizes  entered  as  seamen  on  board  of  the  Globe. 

The  Eliza  Ann,  from  Liverpool,  for  Baltimore,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  British  goods,  has  been  sent  into  Boston  by 
the  privateer  Yankee.  Several  other  vessels  in  like  cir 
cumstances  have  been  sent  into  port  by  our  privateers. 

The  privateer  Benjamin  Franklin  arrived  at  New 
York,  with  twenty-eight  prisoners,  after  a  month's  cruise, 
during  which  she  captured  seven  British  vessels,  most  of 
them  armed,  and  bound  to  England  with  lumber. 

The  privateer  John,  Captain  Crowninshield,  of  Salem, 
of  sixteen  guns  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  re 
turned  to  port  after  a  short  cruise  of  about  three  weeks. 
During  this  time,  she  made  eleven  captures  ;  two  had 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  53 

arrived,  three  were  destroyed,  one  retaken,  and  the  rest 
not  then  heard  of. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  SALEM  PAPER. 

"  The  privateer  Buckskin,  of  Salem,  has  taken  four 
loaded  schooners,  one  of  them  with  fish  and  English 
goods.  She  has  also  retaken  a  Kennebunk  brig.  The 
Buckskin  spoke  yesterday- in  the  bay  a  prize  to  the  sloop 
Polly,  loaded  with  fifty-five  pipes  of  brandy  and  two 
cases  of  pocket-books.  Among  the  prizes  taken  by  the 
Buckskin  was  a  schooner  from  Halifax  for  Quebec,  laden 
with  military  stores,  on  board  of  which  was  Colonel 
Pearson  of  the  British  army,  his  lady  and  family.  The 
Buckskin  also  recaptured  the  brig  Hesper,  taken  by  the 
Maidstone  frigate. 

"  The  privateer  Dolphin,  after  a  successful  cruise  of 
twenty  da}^s,  returned  to  Salem  on  the  23d  of  July. 
The  Dolphin  has  taken  six  prizes  without  receiving  the 
smallest  injury.  She  was  repeatedly  chased  by  the  Eng 
lish,  and  at  one  time  for  twenty-four  hours,  but  finally 
escaped.  She  has  treated  her  prisoners  with  the  great 
est  kindness.  In  rowing  away  from  men-of-war,  she 
found  great  -  aid  from  their  voluntary  assistance.  The 
prisoners  said  they  had  much  rather  go  to  America  than 
return  on  board  a  British  man-of-war.'7 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  SCHOONER  HIGHFLYER, 
OF  BALTIMORE. 

"  On  the  26th  of  July,  off  the  Double-headed  Shot  Keys. 
at  half-past  four  P.M.,  discovered  a  sail  standing  North 
and  West ;  gave  chase.  At  seven  P.M.  came  up  with  and 
boarded  the  British  schooner  Harriet,  in  ballast  from  New 
Providence,  bound  to  Havana.  She  carried  three  black 
men  and  one  boy,  two  gentlemen  and  o»e>>lady  passen- 


54  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812- 

gers.  Put  on  board  Captain  Taylor  as  prize-master,  and 
ordered  her  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States.  The 
next  day  the  Captain  of  the  Harriet  informed  Captain 
Gavet  that  there  was  money  concealed  on  board  ;  we 
boarded  her,  and  found  $8,000  in  specie.  Next  day, 
stood  through  the  Gulf.  On  the  19th  August,  latitude 
9°  22',  at  six  A.M.,  discovered  a  fleet  bearing  S.S.W., 
distant  two  leagues  ;  wore  shi-p  and  made  sail,  endeavor 
ing  to  get  to  the  windward,  for  the  purpose  of  recon- 
noitering  them.  Next  day,  at  half-past  one  P.M.,  the 
frigate  from  the  fleet  gave  chase  to  us,  steering  various 
courses.  At  five  P.M.  dropped  him,  still  pursuing  the 
squadron.  At  six  saw  them  bearing  North.  The  next 
day,  21st,  at  five  P.M.,  the  wind  moderate,  brought-to 
and  boarded  the  British  ship  Diana,  Captain  Harvey,  one 
of  the  Jamaica  fleet,  bound  to  Bristol,  burthen  353  tons, 
laden  with  rum,  sugar,  coffee,  etc.  Took  out  her  crew, 
sent  a  prize-master  and  ten  men  on  board,  and  ordered 
her  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States.  At  the  same 
time  two  other  sail  in  sight ;  at  six  A.M.,  bore  down  on 
them,  fired  three  or  four  shots  at  them,  which  were  re 
turned  by  both  ships.  22d,  at  two  P.M.,  engaged  the 
two  ships  at  half  gun  shot,  and  after  firing-  on  them  up 
wards  of  sixty  shots,  the  breeze  blowing  fresh,  not  think 
ing  it  safe  to  board  them,  at  four  P.M.  hauled  off.  Next 
day,  at  four  P.M.,  wind  moderating,  bore  down,  and  en 
gaged  the  sternmost  ship,  called  the  Jamaica,  of  Liver 
pool,  Captain  Neil,  of  seven  guns,  twenty-one  men,  365 
tons,  in  company  with  the  ship  Mary  and  Ann,  of  Lon 
don,  Captain  Miller,  mounting  twelve  guns,  eighteen 
men,  and  329  tons  burden.  When  within  musket  shot, 
we  commenced  a  brisk  fire  from  our  great  guns  and 
musketry,  which  was  returned  with  great  courage  and 
resolution  from  both  ships.  The  engagement  lasted 


1812.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  55 

twenty  minutes,  when  we  boarded  and  carried  the  Ja 
maica,  the  Mary  and  Ann  striking  her  colors  at  the  same 
time.  It  is  with  pleasure  we  state  that  every  man  and 
officer  acted  with  great  courage  and  determined  resolu 
tion,  but  we  are  sorry  to  announce  that  Captain  Gavet 
was  unfortunately  wounded  about  the  middle  of  the 
action,  by  a  musket  ball,  which  passed  through  his  right 
arm  ;  also  one  ordinary  seaman,  slightly  wounded  in  the 
cheek.  The  Highflyer  received  several  shot  in  her  sails  ; 
her  gib  and  flying  jib-stay  were  shot  away,  and  her  fore 
mast  wounded.  Manned  both  ships  ;  put  Mr.  Brown 
(prize-master)  and  eight  men  on  board  the  Mary  and  Ann, 
and  Mr.  Grant  and  fourteen  men  on  board  the  Jamaica, 
and  ordered  them  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States. 
Both  ships  were  richly  laden  with  sugar,  rum,  coffee, 
logwood,  etc.  Several  of  their  seamen  were  wounded, 
but  none  killed.  The  prizes  arrived  safely." 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  GLOBE,  OF 
BALTIMORE. 

"On  the  24/A  July,  the  Globe  left  the  Capes  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay,  ic  company  with  the  letter-of-marque 
Cora,  and  proceeded  to  sea.  The  Globe  was  well  man 
ned,  having  a  crew  of  eighty  seamen,  all  in  good 
spirits. 

"  On  the  25^,  spoke  the  ship  Marmion,  from  New 
Orleans  for  Baltimore. 

"  26/A — Spoke  the  ship  South  Carolina,  from  the  same 
port,  bound  for  the  same  place-  Boarded  a  large  ship 
from  Havana  for  New  York,  all  well. 

"  Tith — Boarded  a  schooner  from  the  West  Indies,  for 
New  England,  which  had  fallen  in  with  four  sail  of  mer 
chantmen,  without  convoy,  three  days  before.  Brought- 


56  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1832. 

to  schooner  Polly  of  Boston,  from  Havana  for  New  York, 
examined  her  papers,  etc. 

"  30th — Brought-to  ship  Camilla,  of  Philadelphia,  from 
Cadiz  for  the  same  port.  Boarded  a  Swedish  schooner 
from  St.  Bart's,  for  Norfolk,  and  while  overhauling 
her,  being  at  the  mast-head,  discovered  a  sail  ahead, 
which  we  gave  chase  to,  but  lost  her  in  the  night. 

"  31st — Saw  a  sail  to  which  we  gave  chase,  and  in 
about  three  hours  were  within  gun-shot,  when  we  com 
menced  firing.  She  hoisted  British  colors,  and  returned 
fire  with  her  stern-chasers,  two  long-nines,  which 
was  continued  for  about  forty  minutes,  against  our  long 
nine  (midships),  that  being  the  only  gun  we  could  get 
to  bear,  as  it  was  blowing  fresh  and  she  crowded  all  sail ; 
when  we  got  close  enough  we  began  to  fire  broadsides 
(charged  with  round  shot,  double  shotted,  and  then  with 
langrage  and  round),  which  she  returned,  broadside 
for  broadside  ;  when  we  got  within  musket-shot  and  fired 
several  vollies  into  her  she  struck,  after  a  brisk  en 
gagement  of  an  hour  and  a  half. 

"  She  proved  to  be  the  English  letter-of-marque  ship 
Boyd,  from  New  Providence,  for  Liverpool,  laden  with 
coffee,  dye-woods,  and  cotton,  mounting  ten  guns, 
viz.,  two  long-nines,  two  short-twelves,  and  six  long-sixes. 
None  hurt  on  either  side.  Our  sails  and  rigging  very 
much  cut  up.  Their  boats  were  destroyed,  rigging  and 
sails  cut  to  pieces,  and  several  shot  in  the  hull  ;  took 
out  all  the  crew  except  the  mate  and  two  men,  put  a 
prize-master  and  eight  men  on  board,  and  ordered  her 
for  Baltimore  ;  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  The  prisoners 
treated  as  well  as  our  own  crew. 

11  August  1st — Parted  with  the  Boyd,  and  went  in  quest 
of  two  other  English  vessels  which  we  expected  this  way. 
Repaired  damages  ;  seven  prisoners  entered  as  seamen. 


1812.] 


T11K    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  57 


Saw  a  schooner  and  gave  chase,  but  lost  her  in  the 
night  ;  saw  another  sail  the  same  night,  which  also  es 
caped.  '*  * 

"At  eleven  A.M.  saw  Bermuda,  we  passed  within  gun 
shot  ;  cruised  off  under  British  colors. 

«  3^ — ^t  sunset,  saw  a  sail  ahead,  standing  toward  us, 
when  we  got  near  enough,  manoeuvred  for  two  hours  ;  she 
appeared  to  be  an  English  sloop-of-war ;  she  gave  chase, 
but  soon  gave  it  up,  as  she  did  not  make  any  way 
with  us. 

"  4:th — Saw  a  schooner  to  windward,  and  chased  all 
day,  sweeps  out  from  four  to  eight  r.M.;  she  altered  her 
course,  and  escaped  under  cover  of  the  night. 

11  8th — Officers  and  men  put  on  an  allowance  of  three 
quarts  of  water  per  day,  for  cooking,  etc. 

11  $th — The  seamen  exchanged  their  liquor,  quart  for 
quart,  for  water, 

"\kth — Saw  a  sail  ahead  to  which  we  gave  chase,  and 
captured  without  resistance.  She  proved  to  be  the 
British  schooner  Ann,  from  the  City  of  St.  Domingo  for 
Guernsey,  laden  with  mahogany  and  logwood  ;  mounts 
four  guns,  and  carries  nine  men,  (arrived.)'7 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Elizabeth,  ten  guns,  twelve-pounders,  from  Jar 
maica  for  England,  laden  with  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  hogsheads  of  sugar,  some  tierces  and  barrels  of  do., 
with  a  quantity  of  coffee  and  ginger,  etc.;  sent  into 
Charleston  by  the  Sarah  Ann,  of  Baltimore,  after  a  smart 
action,  in  which  four  men  were  wounded  on  board  the 
ship,  and  two  on  board  the  privateer. 

Schooner  James,  from  Porto  Rico  for  Martinique,  in 
ballast,  sent  into  Baltimore  by  the  Dolphin,  of  that  port. 
The  Dolphin  destroyed  several  droggers. 


58  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

Brig  Pursuit,  from  Poole  for  St.  Andrews,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Rapid,  privateer. 

Brig  Tay,  from  Dundee  for  Pictou,  N.  B.,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Rapid. 

Ship  Britannia,  six  guns,  350  tons,  a  new  vessel  in 
ballast,  from  Portsmouth,  England,  for  Halifax,  sent 
into  —  -  by  the  Thrasher,  privateer. 

Brig  Howe,  six  guns,  in  ballast,  from  Penzance  for 
Pictou,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Dart,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Elizabeth,  of  Liverpool,  165  tons,  laden  with 
coal,  sent  into  Newport,  R.  L,  by  the  Decatur,  privateer. 

Ship ,  from  Jamaica,  for  London,  sent  into  Cape 

Ann. 

Ship ,  fourteen  guns  and  twenty-five  men,  bur 
then  450  tons,  laden  with  449  hhds.  of  sugar,  140  pun 
cheons  of  rum,  etc.,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Revenge, 
privateer. 

Brig  Ocean,  seven  guns,  twenty-six  men,  from  Ja 
maica,  for  White  Haven,  laden  with  sugar  and  rum,  sent 
into  New  York  by  the  Saratoga,  of  that  port. 

Ship  Esther,  twelve  guns,  twenty-five  men,  a  valuable 
vessel,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Montgomery,  of 
Salem. 

Ship  Quebec,  from  Jamaica,  sixteen  guns,  fifty-two 
men,  burthen  400  tons,  laden  with  sugar,  etc.,  valued  at 
$300,000,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Saratoga.  Her 
cargo  consists  of  334  hhds.  of  sugar,  59  puncheons  of 
rum,  636  bales  of  cotton,  52  tierces  of  coffee,  52J  tons 
of  logwood,  70  tons  fustic,  1  ton  ebony,  a  quantity  of 
old  copper,  a  quantity  of  hides  and  spars.  The  Sara 
toga  returned  to  port  with  between  seventy  and  eighty 
prisoners  on  board,  nearly  as  many  as  her  crew  at  pre 
sent  consists  of. 

Ship  Richmond,  fourteen  guns,  twenty -five  men,  be- 


1812.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  59 

side  officers,  800  tons  burthen,  deeply  laden  with  West 
India  produce,  worth  $200,000,  captured  on  her  voyage 
from  Jamaica  for  London,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth  by 
the  privateer  Thomas. 

Ship  Adonis,  of  Greenock,  twelve  guns  and  twenty -five 
men,  a  valuable  vessel,  in  ballast  from  Newfoundland,  for 
Nova  Scotia,  sent  into  Salem  by  the,  Montgomery,  pri 
vateer. 

Ship  Falmouth,  fourteen  guns,  thirty  men,  from  Ja 
maica,  for  Bristol  (E.),  with  a  cargo  valued  at  $200,000, 
sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Thomas,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Two  Friends,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Benjamin 
Franklin,  privateer. 

Snow  Friends,  six  guns,  burthen  290  tons,  laden  with 
timber,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Dart. 

Schooner  Trial,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Leader,  of 
Providence. 

Schooner  John  and  George,  sent  into  Boston  by  the 
Regulator,  privateer. 

Ship ,  chiefly  laden  with  rum,  sent  into  Wilming 
ton,  North  Carolina,  by  the  Poor  Sailor,  of  Charleston. 

Brig ,  with  260  hhds.  of  rum,  sent  into  Portland 

by  the  Dart. 

Schooner  Mary  Ann,  with  a  cargo  of  rum  and  coffee,  sent 
into  Norfolk  by  the  privateer  Black  Joke,  of  New  York. 

Brig  Hannah,  from  Oporto  for  Quebec,  with  rum  and 
fruit,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Montgomery. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Lisbon  for  Halifax,  with  some 
specie,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  same. 

Brig ,  sent  into  Castine  by  the  Dart. 

Brig  Pomona,  two  guns,  captured  by  the  Decatur  and 
sent  to  Halifax  as  a  cartel  with  prisoners. 

Brig  Devonshire,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by  the  same, 
and  sent  to  France  to  sell  her  cargo. 


60  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

Brig  Concord,  captured  by  the  Dart  and  burn4. 

Brig  Hope,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  Halifax 
with  prisoners,  as  above. 

The  Decatur  returned  to  port  after  a  cruise  of  forty- 
seven  days,  during  which  She  captured  eleven  vessels, 
several  of  them  very  large  and  valuable. 

Schooner  Minorca,  from  Jamaica,  for  Cuba,  sent  into 
Savannah  by  the  Wasp,  of  Baltimore. 

Barque  William  and  Charlotte,  sent  into  Boston  by 
the  Decatur,  privateer. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  NEW  YORK  NEWSPAPER,  DATED  AUGUST  20. 

"  We  observe  with  much  pride  and  pleasure,  thai 
the  conduct  of  our  privateersmen  is  in  general  sc 
correct  and  liberal  as  to  command  the  respect  of  their 
enemies,  and  to  afford  no  room  for  the  clamor  of  those 
opposed  to  the  system  of  privateering." 

"  MAGNANIMITY — Arrived  at  New  York  on  the  24th 
instant,  the  schooner  Industry,  Captain  Renncaux,  prize 
to  the  Benjamin  Franklin,  privateer. 

The  Industry  is  laden  with  pickled  salmon,  is  worth 
about  $2,000,  and  was  captured  near  the  Anglo-Amer 
ican  coast,  in  order  to  prevent  her  giving  information 
to  some  British  cruisers  of  the  Benjamin  Franklin's  be 
ing  in  those  seas. 

The  owners  of  the  privateer,  on  being  apprized  that 
the  Industry  belonged  to  a  poor  widow  who  had  a  family, 
promptly  directed  her  to  be  restored.  We  are  informed 
that  they  have  also  taken  such  measures  as  will  pre 
vent  the  consequences  of  the  war  from  operating  in  this 
instance  to  the  injury  of  the  indigent  and  unfortunate.'7 

Portsmouth,   August    18th — The    privateer-schooner 
Thomas,  Captain  Shaw,  eleven  guns  and   one  hundred 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  61 

men,  and  privateer-sloop  Science,  Ferriald,  sailed  from 
this  port  on  a  cruise.  Two  other  privateers  were  fitting 
out  at  the  same  time. 

Norfolk,  Sept.  3d — The  schooner  Hornet,  a  privateer 
fitted  out  in  Baltimore,  was  *un  ashore  nineteen  miles 
to  the  South  of  Cape  Henry,  by  a  British  man-of-war, 
and  bilged. 

Commodore  Barney  arrived  at  Newport  on  the  30th 
of  August,  in  his  schooner  Rossie,  from  a  short 
but  successful  cruise  of  forty-five  days,  along  the 
eastern  coast  of  the  United  States.  During  his  absence 
he  captured  fifteen  vessels  nine  of  the  number  he  burned 
or  sunk.  The  vessels  captured  amounted  to  about 
2,914  tons,  and  were  manned  by  166  men.  The  esti 
mated  value  of  these  vessels  was  $1,289,000.  Commo 
dore  Barney  remained  in  this  port  about  eight  or  ten 
days  to  water,  provision,  and  refresh  the  crew  of  his 
privateer,  for  another  cruise. 

During  -his  stay  in  this  port,  the  writer  of  these  pages 
had  the  pleasure  of  lodging  in  the  same  hotel  with  him, 
and  dining  daily  at  the  same  table  in  his  society.  He 
was  very  agreeable  and  gentlemanly  in  conversation, 
full  of  life  and  animation,  very  enthusiastic  in  character, 
and  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  patriotic  hero-  If 
fighting  was  the  order  of  the  day,  he  was  always  sure 
to  be  found  in  the  midst  of  it.  On  his  return  to  Bal 
timore  I  shall  give  an  extract  from  his  journal  in  its 
proper  place- 

The  Lewis,  of  New  London  (she  had  but  four  guns 
and  forty-five  men),  was  sent  into  Halifax,  but  previous 
to  her  capture  she  fell  in  with,  and  seized  a  most  valu 
able  English  ship  of  eight  guns,  richly  laden,  for  Quebec, 
which  paid  the  privateersmen  very  abundantly  for  their 
losses, 


62  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  PRIVATEER-SCHOONER 
SHADOW,  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

"  On  the  3d  of  August,  at  half-past  twelve  (meridian), 
discovered  a  sail ;  called  all  hands  to  quarters,  and  made 
all  necessary  sail  in  chase.  At  half-past  five  P.M.,  came 
up  with  the  chase,  and  perceived  she  was  a  British  man- 
of-war  ;  took  in  the  square-sail  and  stay-sail,  and  hauled 
by  the  wind ;  at  the  same  time  she  tacked  for  us,  com 
mencing  a  brisk  fire.  At  eight  P.M.  lost  sight  of  her. 

"  On  the  4th  of  August,  at  half-past  twelve  (meridian), 
saw  a  sail  to  the  eastward  standing  westward ;  made  all 
necessary  sail  in  chase.  At  half-past  five  P.M.  carried 
away  the  square-sail  boom  ;  cut  the  wreck  adrift ;  Digged 
out  the  lower  studding-sail  boom,  and  set  her  square- 
sail  again,  coming  up  with  the  chase.  At  six  P.M.,  being 
within  gun-shot,  she  commenced  firing  from  her  stern 
guns.  At  seven  P.M.  came  up  with  her,  and  commenced 
an  action  ;  at  half-past  seven  the  ship  hoisted  a  light  in 
her  mizzen  rigging,  which  was  answered  by  a  light  from 
us  ;  at  the  same  time  hailed  her.  She  hailed  from  Liv 
erpool,  when  Captain  Taylor  ordered  her  to  send  her 
boat  on  board  with  her  papers,  which  she  in  part  com 
plied  with,  by  sending  her  boat  with  an  officer1  and  two 
men,  whom  we  detained,  and  gave  directions  to  man  the 
boat  with  our  crew,  board  the  ship  and  demand  her 
papers.  These  orders  were  delivered  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Yorke,  who  received  for  answer,  that  such  a  demand 
would  not  be  complied  with,  at  the  same  time  handing 
him  a  note  addressed  to  Captain  Taylor,  purporting  that 
his  ship  was  a  British  letter-of-marque,  called  the  May, 
from  Liverpool,  bound  to  St.  Lucia,  commanded  by 
Captain  Affleck,  mounting  fourteen  guns  and  fifty  men. 
He  also  stated  that  the  Orders  in  Council  had  been  re- 


1S12.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  63 

scinded,  and  a  change  of  ministry  taken  place  in  Eng 
land.  The  note  was  handed  to  Captain  Taylor.  The 
boat  was  again  sent  on  board,  with  a  note  from  our 
Captain,  demanding  his  papers,  which  were  refused.  At 
half-past  eight  o'clock,  a  brisk  fire  commenced  on  both 
sides,  during  which  time,  William  Craft,  sailmaker,  was 
wounded.  At  ten  P.M.,  dropped  astern,  with  the  inten 
tion  of  lying  by  all  night  within  gun-shot ;  at  intervals 
kept  up  a  brisk  fire  ;  weather  squally  and  dark. 

"At  daylight,  ranged  up  under  her  stern  and  com 
menced  a  severe  action,  when  we  received  a  shot  in  our 
starboard  bow  which  shattered  the  wooden  ends,  started 
the  plank  shear,  and  broke  several  timbers.  At  half- 
past  seven  A.M.  received  another  in  our  larboard  bow ;» 
struck  the  larboard  after-gun-carriage  ;  killed  six  men 
and  wounded  three.  At  half-past  eight  A.M.,  our  com 
mander  received  a  ball  in  his  left  temple,  which  instantly 
terminated  his  existence,  to  the  inexpressible  regret  of 
all  hands.  About  the  same  time  a  shot  struck  under 
the  larboard  fore-chains,  between  wind  and  water,  which 
caused  the  vessel  to  leak  badly  ;  found  three  feet  water 
in  the  hold  on  sounding  the  pumps." 

The  Shadow  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  was  refitted,  and 
soon  sailed  on  another  cruise. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Grenada,  eleven  guns,  thirty  men,  TOO  tons 
burthen,  laden  with  700  hhds.  of  sugar,  with  large  quan 
tities  of  cotton  and  coffee,  from  Pointe-a-Pitre,  Guada- 
loupe,  for  London,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Young 
Eagle,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  Shadock,  also  armed,  from  Antigua,  for  Liv 
erpool,  laden  with  molasses,  in  company  with  the  Gren 
ada,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Young  Eagle.  The 


64  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  . 

Eagle  carried  but  one  gun  and  forty-two  men.  She  en 
gaged  the  Grenada  and  Shadock  at  the  same  time,  and 
in  an  hour  and  a-half  captured  them  both.  The  Captain 
of  the  Shadock  was  killed,  and  two  of  his  men  wounded  ; 
three  men  were  wounded  on  board  the  ship  ;  no  person 
hurt  belonging  to  the  privateer. ' 

Brig  Roebuck,  with  a  full  cargo  of  rum,  from  Gre 
nada,  for  Jersey,  sent  into  Norfolk  by  the  Rosamond,  of 
New  York.  The  Roebuck  is  a  very  valuable  vessel, 
formerly  belonging  to  the  United  States,  but  peaceably 
captured  under  the  Orders  in  Council. 

Brig  Henry,  from  Gibraltar,  sent  into  Newport,  R.  I., 
by  the  Yankee,  of  Bristol. 

Ship  Hope  well,  fourteen  guns,  twenty-five  men,  from 
Surinam,  for  London,  burthen  upwards  of  400  tons, 
laden  with  710  hhds.  of  sugar,  54  hhds.  of  molasses,  111 
bales  of  cotton,  260  bags  and  casks  of  coffee  and  cocoa, 
captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  that 
port  after  an  obstinate  engagement,  in  which  one  man 
was  killed  and  six  wounded  on  board  the  ship  ;  two  of 
the  privateer's  men  were  wounded.  The  Hopewell 
sailed  from  Surinam,  in  company  with  five  other  ships, 
from  which  she  parted  but  two  days  before  ;  the  Comet 
went  in  search  of  them,  every  sail  set.  The  Hopewell 
was  worth  $150,000.  Her  late  Captain  bears  the  most 
honorable  testimony  to  the  bravery  of  the  crew  of  the 
Comet. 

Brig  Hazard,  from  Newcastle,  for  Newfoundland,  in 
ballast,  burthen  233  tons,  carrying  six  twelve  pounders. 
An  excellent  vessel,  first  captured  by  the  Dolphin,  of 
Salem,  recaptured  by  the  Eolus  frigate,  and  sent  into 
Boston  by  the  United  States  ship  Wasp. 

Schooner  Forebe  and  Phoebe,  sent  into  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  by  the  Squando  of  that  port. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  65 

Brig  Thetis,  by  the  Yankee  of  Bristol,  burnt. 

Brig  Alfred,  by  the  Yankee,  destroyed  also. 

Brig  Antelope,  by  the  Dolphin  of  Salem,  sent  into  that 
port. 

Ship  Kitty,  by  the  Rossie,  of  Baltimore,  sent  into  an 
eastern  port. 

Schooner  Spunk,  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  Salem,  sent 
into  that  port. 

Schooner  Providence,  captured  by  the  Wiley  Reynard, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  an  eastern  port. 

Ship  Quay  ana,  carrying  eight  guns,  burthen  300  tons, 
from  Liverpool,  for  New  York,  with  salt,  crates,  etc., 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dromo,  of  Boston.  This  was  an 
American  Ship  and  British  property. 

Barque  Duke  of  Savoy,  eight  guns,  twenty  men,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Decatur,  of  Newburyport.  The  De- 
catur  having  thrown  over  her  guns  when  chased  by  the 
Constitution,  rearmed  herself  from  the  prize. 

Ship  Pursuit,  with  600  hhds.  of  sugar,  sent  into  Phil 
adelphia  by  the  Atlas  of  that  port. 

Ship  Evergreen,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dolphin. 

Brig  New  Liverpool,  four  guns,  from  Minorca,  for 
Quebec,  with  a  full  cargo  of  wine,  sent  into  New  York 
by  the  Yankee. 

Ship  Mary  Ann,  from  Jamaica,  for  London,  a  very 
valuable  vessel,  carrying  twelve  guns  and  eighteen  men. 
deeply  laden  with  sugar,  etc.,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Highflyer,  of  Baltimore. 

Sent  into  Baltimore  the  first-class  British  ship  Henry, 
400  tons  burthen,  coppered  to  the  bends,  mounting  four 
twelve-pounders  and  six  six-pounders,  bound  from  St. 
Croix  for  London.  She  was  captured  by  the  privateer 
Comet,  Captain  Boyle,  of  Baltimore.  The  Henry's  car 
go  consisted  of  700  hogsheads  of  sugar,  and  thirteen 


66  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  (1812. 

r>ipes  of  old  Madeira  wine  ;  this  vessel  and  <sargo  pro 
duced  a  clear  profit  to  the  captors  of  more  than 
$100,000. 

Also  arrived,  the  English  schooner  Alfred,  sent  in 
by  the  privateer  Spencer,  of  Philadelphia,  from  Ber 
muda  for  New  Providence,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of 
brandies,  rum,  and  claret  wine. 

The  Teazer  privateer,  of  New  York,  captured  an 
English  Brig  from  Gibraltar,  in  ballast,  and  sent  her 
into  an  Eastern  port. 

The  English  brig  Resolution  arrived  at  Portland,  a 
prize  to  the  privateer  Nancy,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

New  York,  August  bth. — The  brig  Nerina,  Stewart, 
from  Newry,  for  New  York,  arrived  at  New  London. 

The  Nerina  was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser,  and  all 
the  crew,  except  the  Captain,  taken  out,  and  a  British 
prize-master  and  crew  put  on  board  the  brig.  Previous 
to  her  capture,  the  Captain  secreted  all  his  passengers, 
numbering  about  fifty,  in  the  hold.  After  getting  out 
of  sight  of  the  English  man-of-war,  Captain  Stewart  sug 
gested  the  propriety  of  opening  the  hatches  to  air  the 
vessel,  when  all  the  passengers  rushed  on  deck,  and  re 
took  the  brig  without  resistance. 

The  British,  about  this  time,  captured  five  of  our 
small  privateers,  belonging  to  Salem,  and  other  Eastern 
ports. 

A  CARD. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bell,  of  Nova  Scotia,  passenger  on 
board  the  schooner  Ann,  Kelly,  master,  frcm  Halifax, 
taken  and  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Privateer  Dolphin, 
begs  leave  to  acknowledge,  with  much  gratitude,  the 
gentlemanly  and  humane  treatment  of  the  Captain  and 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  67 


Prize-master  of  the  Dolphin,  in  returning  her  $900,  to 
gether  with  all  her  personal  effects,  etc. 

On  the  1st  December,  the  privateer-schooner  Jack's 
Favorite,  Captain  Miller,  of  New  York,  was  lying  at  the 
island  of  St.  Bart's,  where  he  had  put  in  for  water  and 
refreshments.  A  few  days  after  his  arrival,  his  Majesty's 
schooner  Subtle  came  into  the  same  port,  and  while 
there  threatened,  in  the  presence  of  the  merchants  and 
others,  "that  he  would  follow,  and  take  the  damned 
Yankee  privateer,  if  he  went  to  hell  for  her."  When 
Captain  Miller  was  ready,  he  sailed  out  of  the  harbor, 
on  a  cruise  among  the  islands ;  the  Englishman  soon  fol 
lowed  to  put  his  threat  into  execution.  Immediately 
after  leaving  port,  the  privateer  not  wishing  to  engage 
a  man-of-war,  made  sail  to  avoid  his  enemy  ;  soon  after 
the  chase  commenced  a  terrible  squall  arose,  and  raged 
with  fury  for  a  considerable  time,  both  vessels,  of  course, 
carrying  all  the  sail  they  could  possibly  bear  during  the 
continuance  of  the  terrific  gust.  It  soon,  however,  ex 
pended  itself,  and  when  it  cleared  away,  behold  there 
was  nothing  to  be  seen  of  the  Subtle.  She  having  so 
suddenly  disappeared,  Captain  Miller,  moved  by  motives 
of  humanity,  tacked  ship  and  sailed  over  the  same 
ground  from  which  his  adversary  had  so  recently  dis 
appeared,  and  all  that  was  left  of  the  gallant  Subtle 
were  a  few  hats,  caps,  and  hammock-cloths  floating  on 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  writer  of  this  article  was 
personally  acquainted  with  Captain  Miller,  and  two  of 
his  crew.  These  two  individuals  were  young  men  of 
respectability,  belonging  to  Milford,  Connecticut,  and 
have  related  to  me  all  the  circumstances  here  narrated, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  their  statement  is  true,  to  the 
spirit  and  the  letter. 


68  •  THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  -  — ,  ten  guns,  with  a  very  valuable  cargo  of 
dry-goods,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  privateers  "  United 
we  Stand,"  and  "  Divided  we  Fall." 

Transport  ship  Lord  Keith,  four  guns,  from  Lisbon  for 
England,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  Mars. 

Transport  ship  Canada,  twelve  guns,  one  hundred  sol 
diers,  and  forty-two  horses,  captured  by  the  Paul  Jones, 
and  ransomed  for  £3,000  sterling,  after  disarming  the 
men. 

Brig  John  and  Isabella,  of  Berwick-on-Tweed,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  and  given  up  to  discharge  her  pris 
oners. 

The  large  ship  Neptune,  of  690  tons,  sent  into  New 
Orleans  by  the  Saratoga.  This  is  probably  one  of  the 
most  valuable  ships  taken  during  the  war. 

Brig ,  of  twelve  guns,  with  an  assorted  cargo. 

from  St.  Michaels,  sent  into  New  London  by  the  Dolphin, 
of  Salem. 

Schooner ,  worth  $10,000,  sent  into  New  Orleans 

by  the  Lovely  Lass,  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Brig  -    — ,  sent  into  Chatham  by  the  Paul  Jones. 

Ship  Mentor,  of  London,  twelve  guns,  with  a  cargo  in 
voiced  at  £60,000  sterling,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the 
Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston. 

Schooner  Huzzar,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Liberty, 
of  Baltimore,  laden  with  turtle,  etc.,  supposed  as  pres 
ents  for  Admiral  Warren  and  his  officers. 

Brig  Antrim,  from  Ireland,  with  dry-goods,  etc.,  val 
ued  at  $60,000,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the  Saucy 
Jack. 

Schooner  -  — ,100  tons,  laden  with  beeswax  and  red 
wood,  arrived  at  Tarpaulin  Cove,  a  prize  to  the  Yankee. 


1812. 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  69 


GALLANT  EXPLOITS. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Le  Chantier,  of  the 
Privateer  Hazard  to  a  Gentleman  in  Charleston,  from  St. 
Mary's,  Georgia. — u  I  have  just  arrived  here  with  my 
prize,  the  ship  Albion,  which  I  captured  on  the  1st  of 
February,  longitude  64°  West,  latitude  169  North.  On 
the  23d  of  February,  being  on  Savannah  bar,  having  lost 
sight  of  her  in  a  fog,  she  was  retaken  by  a  privateer 
from  New  Providence,  mounting  eight  pieces  of  cannon, 
after  which  we  fell  in  with  her  again,  the  privateer  in 
company,  which  we  engaged,  and  after  an  action  of 
seven  hours  and  a-half,  the  privateer  struck,  and  we  re 
took  the  ship.  If  we  had  had  half  an  hour  more  of  day 
light,  I  should  have  brought  in  the  privateer  ;  but  fear 
ing  to  lose  my  prize,  I  was  forced  to  abandon  her.  My 
lieutenant  and  carpenter  were  wounded  dangerously,  and 
five  seamen  slightly.  It  is  surprising  we  had  so  few 
wounded,  considering  how  severely  our  vessel  was  crip 
pled  by  the  grape  shot  of  the  enemy.  Our  force  was 
twenty-eight  fighting  men,  while  that  of  the  enemy,  in 
cluding  both  vessels,  the  prize  and  the  privateer,  was 
twenty  guns  and  sixty  men.  I  hope  the  privateer  Cale 
donia  will  long  remember  the  little  Hazard. 

"  Among  the  naval  exploits  of  the  present  war,  there 
is  none  which  reflects  more  credit  on  American  gallan 
try  than  the  battle  of  the  privateer-brig  Montgomery, 
Captain  Upton',  of  Boston,  with  a  large  British  brig  off 
Surinam,  on  the  6th  of  December.  This  vessel,  along 
side  of  which  the  Montgomery  lay  for  half  an  hour,  was 
no  less  than  his  Majesty's  brig  Surinam,  carrying  eigh 
teen  thirty-two  pound  carronades  and  two  long-nines, 
while  the  Montgomery  had  only  twelve  guns,  ten  sixes 
and  two  eighteen-pound  carronades.  Notwithstanding 


70  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

this  disparity  of  force,  the  Surinam  had  received  such 
shocks  that  she  was  evidently  glad  to  get  off,  and  instead 
of  going  direct  to  the  common  rendezvous  at  Barbadoes, 
she  first  put  into  an  out-port  to  refit,  having  had  her 
foremast  badly  wounded.  What  further  damage  she 
sustained  we  have  not  heard.77 

"  Britannia  needs  no  bulwark, 
No  towers  along  the  steep  ; 
Her  march  is  o'er  the  mountain  waves, 
Her  home  is  on  the  deep." 

GALLAKT  ACTION  FOUGHT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER-SCHOONER 
SARATOGA,  CHARLES  W.  WOOSTER,,  COMMANDER,  AND  THE  BRIT 
ISH  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  BRIG  RACHEL,  OFF  LAGUIRA,  ON  THE  13ra 
OF  DECEMBER,  1812. 

On  the  §th  December,  the  private  armed  schooner 
Saratoga,  commanded  by  Charles  W.  Wooster,  made 
her  appearance  off  this  place,  (Laguira.)  The  same  day 
the  first  Lieutenant  came  on  shore.  He  said  they  were 
twenty-four  days  from  New  York,  and  had  seen  nothing. 
On  the  10th,  Captain  Wooster  ran  down  and  anchored 
in  the  roads,  but  in  a  few  minutes  was  advised  in  a  note, 
from  the  American  consul,  to  weigh  and  keep  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  batteries,  as  the  commandant  had  said  he 
would  sink  her  if  she  came  to.  He  immediately  com 
plied  with  this  advice,  and  stood  off.  He  soon  discov 
ered  a  schooner  standing  down  the  coast,  some  miles  to 
windward  of  Laguira.  He  boarded  and  captured  her. 
She  was  a  schooner,  with  dry-goods  on  board  to  the 
amount  of  $20,000. 

The  next  day,  at  nine  A.M.,  after  the  fog  cleared  off, 
we  saw  the  Saratoga  some  miles  to  leeward,  in-shore  of 
a  brig,  but  neither  near  enough  to  fetch  in.  At  eleven 
A.M.,  the  brig  tacked  off  shore,  and  soon  after,  the 
schooner  did  the  same.  It  was  known  on  shore  the 


I 


1812.1 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  71 


brig  was  well  armed  and  manned,  and  it  was  generally 
believed  she  would  take  the  Saratoga,  or  at  all  events 
beat  her  off.  All  the  inhabitants,  from  the  command 
ant  to  the  beggar,  left  their  business  to  see  the  engage 
ment. 

The  brig  being  so  far  from  the  schooner,  it  was  some 
time  before  she  came  up  with  her.  Both  vessels  were 
so  far  off,  we  could  but  just  discern  them  from  the  house 
tops,  and  just  as  we  had  given  up  all  hopes  of  seeing 
the  battle,  we  discovered  they  both  tacked  in-shore 
again.  They  continued  standing  in  until  within  two 
leagues  of  the  town,  when  the  Saratoga  commenced  the 
action  from  her  starboard  bow-guns,  which  was  returned 
from  the  brig's  larboard  quarter.  The  action  now  be 
came  furious,  so  that  both  vessels  were  hid  from  us  in 
columns  of  fire  and  smoke.  In  a  few  minutes,  however, 
the  firing  ceased. 

When  the  smoke  cleared  off,  we  could  see  no  colors 
flying  except  the  American  on  board  the  Saratoga, 
which  was  victorious.  (May  it  always  remain  so.) 

On  the  13th  the  second  mate  and  twenty-five  seamen 
arrived  at  Laguira  in  the  brig's  long-boat,  which  Captain 
Wooster  had  given  them,  together  with  every  article 
belonging  to  them.  The  second  mate  was  the  only  offi 
cer  that  was  alive  after  the  action,  there  being  great 
slaughter  on  board  the  brig.  On  board  the  Saratoga 
they  had  but  one  man  slightly  wounded.  The  brig  was 
the  Rachel,  from  Greenock,  mounting  twelve  long-nine- 
pounders,  and  carrying  sixty  men.  She  had  on  board  a 
cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  invoiced  at  £15,000,  sterling. 


CHAPTER   III. 

BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  FRIGATE  UNITED  STATES  AND  THE  BRITISH  FRIGATE 
MACEDONIAN — REMARKS  ON  ADMIRAL  WARREN 'S  BLOCKADING  THE  AMERICAN  PORTS — 
BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  CAPTURED  BY  THE  COMET — A  VALUABLE  BRITISH  SHIP  SENT  INTO  PORT 
LAND  BY  THE  DECATUR — EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  ATLAS,  CAPTAIN  MA.F- 
FET,  AND  HIS  ACCOUNT  OF  AN  ACTION  WITH  TWO  BRITISH  SHIPS,  WHICH  HE  CAPTURES 
—BETWEEN  APRIL  AND  AUGUST,  1812,  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-SIX  AMERICAN  MER 
CHANT  VESSELS  ARRIVE  AT  NEW  YORK — ON  THE  18TH  OF  JUNF,  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  PRESENT  CAPTAIN  ISAAC  HULL  WITH  THE  FREEDOM  OF  THEIR 
CITY  IN  A  GOLD  BOX — COMMODORE  BARNEY  RETURNS  TO  BALTIMORE,  ON  THE  10TH  OF 
NOVEMBER,  FROM  A  SECOND  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE— EXTRACT  FROM  HIS  LOG-BOOK  ON 
THAT  CRUISE — A  GALLANT,  BUT  UNSUCCESSFUL  CONFLICT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER 
NONSUCH  AND  AN  ENGLISH  SHIP,  OFF  MARTINIQUE — A  MEMORIAL  FROM  THE  MERCHANTS 
OF  NEW  YORK  TO  THE  CONGRESS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES— BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  HAMILTON 
SENT  INTO  BALTIMORE  BY  THE  DOLPHIN  ERIVATEER — A  BRITISH  SHIP  OF  22  GUNS 
DRIVEN  ON  SHORE  NEAR  DEMARARA,  BY  THE  GENERAL  ARMSTRONG — BRITISH  SHIP  QUEEN, 
16  GUNS  AND  40  MEN,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  GENERAL  ARMSTRONG,  ETC. 

NAVAL  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE   FRIGATE  UNITED  STATES    AND  THE 

MACEDONIAN. 

On  the  25th  October,  in  latitude  29°  North,  longitude 
29°  30'  West,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Western  Is 
lands,  Commodore  Decatur  was  cruising  alone  to  inter 
cept  the  enemy,  and  no  doubt  wishing  to  meet  a  single 
ship  of  equal  or  somewhat  superior  force,  it  was  his 
good  fortune  to  make  a  large  sail  to  windward.  It  was 
then  blowing  a  strong  breeze,  with  a  high  sea  on,  and 
as  the  sail  was  dead  to  windward,  the  Frigate  United 
States  was  brought  to  the  wind,  in  order  to  near,  and 
ascertain  the  character  of  the  ship  in  sight. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  stranger  was  a  frigate, 
and  no  doubt  an  enemy,  who  being  to  windward,  had 
of  course,  his  choice  of  distance  and  time  for  commenc 
ing  the  conflict.  As  the  stranger  did  not  choose  to  ap- 

(72) 


1812.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  73 

proach  within  good  fighting  distance,  Commodore  Deca- 
tur  was  obliged  to  hug  the  wind,  in  order  to  bring  the 
enemy  within  the  range  of  his  guns. 

At  length,  drawing  up  under  his  lee,  he  ordered  a 
broadside  to  be  given  to  the  foe,  but  observing  that 
most  of  the  shot  fell  short  of  the  enemy,  he  reserved  his 
fire,  keeping  his  luff  so  that  he  was  soon  enabled  to  get 
near  enough  to  have  his  main-deck  guns  take  effect. 
Although  at  too  great  a  distance  to  reach  his  opponent 
with  his  carronades  and  musketry,  a  heavy  cannonade 
with  their  long-guns  was  kept  up  for  the  space  of  half 
an  hour,  by  both  parties.  It  was  then  apparent  that 
the  American  frigate  was  hulling  and  cutting  her  an 
tagonist  to  pieces,  while  she  herself  received  but  little 
injury,  as  the  greatest  portion  of*  the  shot  from  the 
English  ship  passed  over  her,  and  through  her  upper 
sails. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  English  frigate  gradually 
drifted  to  leeward,  while  the  American  kept  her  luff. 
They  naturally  n eared  each  other,  and  as  the  American 
frigate  had  ranged  far  enough  ahead  to  gain  a  favorable 
position,  she  tacked  and  passed  under  the  lee  of  the 
enemy. 

The  mizzen-inast  of  the  English  ship  having  been  pre 
viously  shot,  at  this  moment  fell  overboard,  taking  with 
it  the  fore  and  main  top-masts,  while  the  main-yard  was 
hanging  in  the  slings  in  two  pieces.  There  were  no 
colors  flying,  for  there  was  nothing  left  to  set  them 
upon.  * 

In  this  situation,  the  disabled  ship  could  do  no  more, 
and  any  further  resistance  would  have  been  a  useless 
sacrifice  of  human  life.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  firing 
ceased  on  both  sides. 

When  the  United   States  came  up  under  the  lee  of 


74.  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS  [1812 

the  disabled  ship,  demanding  her  name,  and  whether  she 
had  surrendered,  her  answer  was  that  it  was  the  Mace 
donian  frigate,  of  thirty-eight  guns,  Captain  Garden,  and 
that  she  had  struck. 

On  taking  possession  of  the  Macedonian,  she  was 
found  frightfully  cut  to  pieces,  having  received  about 
one  hundred  round  shot  in  her  hull.  Her  rigging  and 
sails  were  rent  in  tatters.  Of  a  crew  of  three  hundred 
men,  thirty-six  were  killed  and  sixty-eight  wounded, 
numbering  together  one  hundred  and  four  put  hors  de 
combat ;  a  fearful  destruction  of  human  life  in  the  short 
space  of  an  hour  and  a  half. 

The  Macedonian  was  a  fine  ship  of  her  class ;  rated 
thirty-eight,  but  carrying  forty-nine  guns  :  eighteens  on 
her  gun-deck,  and  thirty-two  pound  carronades  on  her 
spar-deck.  She  was  only  four  years  old,  and  had  not 
been  long  at  sea. 

It  is  but  fair  to  acknowledge  that  the  United  States 
was  a  larger  ship  than  her  opponent.  She  also  carried 
five  more  guns,  and  heavier  metal,  with  a  larger  number 
of  men  ;  still  it  is  surprising  how  little  she  suffered  in 
comparison  with  her  adversary ;  she  having  had  but  five 
men  killed,  and  seven  wounded. 

Among  the  killed  was  the  Third  Lieutenant.  Mr.  John 
M.  Funk,  a  promising  young  officer.  ISTo  other  officer 
was  hurt  in  the  combat. 

The  rigging  and  sails  of  the  American  frigate  were 
somewhat  injured,  but  not  so  much  as  to  prevent  her 
from  continuing  her  cruise,  had  it  not  been  deemed  ad 
visable  for  her  to  convoy  her  prize  into  port. 

Mr.  Allen,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  United  States, 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  prize.  They  rig 
ged  a  jury  mizzen-rnast,  repaired  the  sails  and  rigging,  and 
soon  the  English  frigate  was  transformed  into  an  Ameri- 


1812.1 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  75 


can  barque,  and  proceeded  on  her  passage  to  "  the  land 
of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE. 

I  am  aware  that  it  is  much  easier  to  criticize  than  to 
fight,  still,  as  a  seaman,  I  think  Captain  Garden  made  a 
mistake  in  keeping  at  so  great  a  distance,  and,  as 
it  were,  lying  like  a  target  to  be  cut  to  pieces. 

Had  he  bore  down  close  to  his  enemy,  he  could  at 
least  have  done  him  a  great  deal  of  damage,  and  no  one 
knows  but  some  lucky  shot  might  have  disabled  his  op 
ponent  ID  her  rudder  or  some  other  vital  part. 

As  he  was  to  windward  during  the  whole  fight,  he  had 
the  advantage  of  choosing  his  own  distance,  and  could 
but  have  been  beaten  at  last. 

I  am  happy  to  add,  however,  that  it  is  agreed  on  all 
hands,  both  by  friends  and  foes,  that  Captain  Garden  was 
a  brave,  humane,  honorable  man,  with  the  polished  man 
ners  of  gentleman. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  was  in  New  York  at  the 
time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Macedonian  at  the  Navy  Yard  in 
Brooklyn,  and  immediately  repaired  on  board  the  cap 
tured  ship. 

She  was,  of  course,  somewhat  battered  in  her  hull  and 
spars,  but  still  a  fine  fast-sailing  frigate,  and  was  soon 
repaired  and  fitted  to  cruise  under  the  stars  and  stripes, 
against  those  who  had  until  this  war  been  in  the  habit 
of  treating  our  flag  with  contempt  and  derision.  I  will 
here  observe  that  every  American  was  rejoiced  at  the 
capture  of  another  British  frigate  ;  still  there  was  no  dis 
position  to  triumph  over  an  unfortunate  foe.  Captain 
Garden  had  never  been  bullying  and  blustering  on  our 
coast,  and  carrying  fire  and  destruction  in  his  path 
against  defenceless  plantations  and  fishing  towns,  like  the 


76  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

notorious  Cockburn,  and  several  other  ruffians  of  the 
same  stamp  of  character.  On  the  contrary,  Captain 
Garden  was  looked  upon  as  a  gentleman,  and  every 
honorable  man  felt  a  sympathy  for  his  misfortunes.  It 
may  appear  somewhat  surprising  to  the  present  genera 
tion  to  learn  how  soon  the  public  and  private  character 
of  nearly  all  the  British  officers  that  commanded  on  our 
coast  at  that  period  was  known  to  the  public  at  large. 
Some  of  them  were  respected  and  esteemed  even  by  their 
enemies,  for  their  kind  and  humane  acts  of  generosity, 
while  others  were  despised  and  hated  for  their  coarse 
brutality.  As  the  most  of  those  who  figured  in  the  war 
against  us  have  gone  to  their  rest,  I  deem  it  unwise  to 
name  any  more  of  them,  as  it  can  do  no  good,  and  may 
perhaps  injure  the  feelings  of  their  children  and  grand 
children. 

Notwithstanding  the  reiterated  proclamations  by  Ad 
miral  Warren  (Commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's 
naval  forces  on  the  coast  of  North  America),  declaring 
the  greatest  part  of  our  sea  coast  under  a  strict  and  rigid 
blockade  ;  and  though  numerous  line-of- battle  ships  and 
frigates  were  stationed  at  the  entrance  of  our  principal 
ports,  striving  to  intercept  and  annihilate  our  trade  and 
commerce  ;  still,  with  all  their  force  and  vigilance,  they 
could  not  prevent  our  privateers  and  letters-of-marque 
from  entering  and  leaving  our  ports  almost  daily. 

If  the  enemy's  ships  were  to  leeward,  and  a  strong- 
breeze  blowing,  our  privateers  and  private  armed  vessels 
would  slip  out  in  spite  of  them,  even  at  mid-day. 

If  such  an  opportunity  did  not  offer,  they  had  only 
to  wait  for  darkness,  or  thick,  stormy  weather,  and  thus, 
while  the  enemy  was  waiting  to  catch  our  mischievous 
privateers  near  our  own  ports,  they  were  annoying  and 
capturing  British  ships  and  vessels  in  almost  every  part 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  77 

of  the  world  ;  in  defiance  of  their  eight  hundred  ships  of 
war. 

Before  hostilities  commenced,  their  oft-repeated  boast 
was,  that  in  six  months  after  war  should  exist  between 
the  two  nations,  not  a  single  American  flag  would  be 
seen  on  the  ocean.  And  such  was  their  inflated  vanity, 
that  they  counted  on  very  little  resistance,  either  from 
our  navy  or  private  armed  vessels.  What  then  must 
have  been  their  disappointment  when  single  ships  met  ? 
and  when,  with  their  numerous  ships  of  war,  and  cruis 
ing  vessels,  they  were  unable  to  keep  a  handful  of  frigates* 
in  combination  with  our  privateers  and  private  armed 
vessels,  from  perpetually  harassing  their  shipping,  even 
at  the  mouths  of  their  own  ports  in  the  British  and  Irish 
channels.  ]STo  one  acquainted  with  the  English  character 
can  justly  accuse  them  of  timidity,  or  want  of  courage. 
On  the  contrary,  they  are  a  daring,  brave  people,  but 
sadly  deficient  in  good  manners,  and  civility  in  their  in 
tercourse  with  other  nations.  This  is  certainly  a  grave 
charge,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Marianna,  from  St.  Croix  for  London,  six  hun 
dred  tons,  laden  with  sugars,  etc.,  found  deserted  at  sea, 
by  the  Governor  McKean,  of  Philadelphia,  and  towed 
into  Norfolk. 

Brig ,  laden  with  salt,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 

Teazer  privateer. 

Brig  -  — ,  captured  by  a  whale-boat  privateer,  and 
brought  into  Portland.  After  the  capture,  the  boat 
was  hoisted  on  the  deck  of  the  prize,  and  carried  into 
port. 

Brig  Isabella,  two  hundred  and  five  tons,  one  year  old, 


78  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

laden  with  crockery  ware,  iron,  etc.,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  Teazer. 

Ship  -  — ,  laden  with  timber,  bound  for  England, 
sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Decatur  privateer. 

Brig  Diana  from  London,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Dart. 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  Dolphin  of  Baltimore, 
and  burned. 

Ship  John,  fourteen  guns,  thirty-five  men,  four  hun 
dred  tons  burthen,  from  Demarara  for  Liverpool,  laden 
with  742  bales  of  cotton,  230  hogsheads  of  sugar,  100 
puncheons  of  rum,  50  casks  and  300  bags  of  coffee,  with 
a  large  quantity  of  old  copper  and  dye-wood,  worth  at 
least  $150,000,  sent  into  Baltimore  by  the  Comet,  of 
that  port. 

Ship  Commerce,  fourteen  guns,  long-nines,  —  -  men, 
from  four  hundred  to  five  hundred  tons  burthen,  from 
Demarara  for  London,  very  richly  laden  with  sugar,  rum, 
cotton,  coffee — a  very  valuable  prize — sent  into  Port 
land  by  the  Decatur,  of  Kewburyport.  The  captain  and 
several  of  the  crew  were  killed  by  the  first  broadside 
from  the  privateer. 

Privateer-schooner  Frances,  of  Nassau,  N.  P.,  four 
guns  and  thirty  men,  a  fine,  fast-sailing  vessel,  sent  into 
Baltimore  by  the  Dolphin. 

A  small  English  privateer,  taken  by  the  Rapid,  of 
Charleston,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Tor  Abbey,  laden  with  dry  fish,  sent  into  Cape 
Ann  by  the  Thrasher,  privateer.  A  valuable  vessel. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  sugar,  flour,  etc.,  an  as 
sorted  cargo,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer,  pri 
vateer. 

Brig ,  from  Madeira  for  London,  laden  with 

choice  wine,  sent  into  Newburyport  by  the  Marengo,  of 
"New  York. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  79 

Brig  Orient,  from  Quebec  for  England,  laden  with 
timber,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer,  privateer. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  SCHOONER  ATLAS,  CAPTAIN 
DAVID  MAFFET. 

August  3d,  in  latitude  37°  30',  North,  longitude  46° 
West,  at  half-past  eight  A.M.,  made  two  sail  to  the  west 
ward,  standing  to  the  Northeast ;  tacked  to  the  south 
ward  ;  at  half-past  nine  tacked  to  the  northward  ;  at  ten 
A.M.  beat  to  quarters  and  cleared  for  action. 

At  half-past  ten,  bore  away  for  both  ships,  and  hoisted 
the  American  ensign  and  pendant ;  at  three-quarters 
past  ten  the  smallest  ship  fired  a  shot  at  us,  both  ships 
at  this  time  having  English  colors  flying. 

At  eleven  A.M.,  the  action  commenced  by  a  broadside 
and  musketry  from  the  Atlas,  which  continued  (engag 
ing  both  ships  at  the  same  time)  until  noon,  when  the 
small  ship  struck  her  colors.  We  then  directed  the 
whole  of  our  fire  against  the  large  ship,  but  to  our  ut 
most  surprise,  the  small  ship  again  opened  her  fire  on  us, 
although  her  colors  were  still  down.  We  again  com 
menced  firing  on  her,  and  in  a  few  minutes  drove  every 
man  off  her  decks.  At  twenty  minutes  past  meridian 
the  large  ship  struck,  and  we  immediately  took  possession 
of  them  both  ;  one  proved  to  be  the  ship  Pursuit,  Captain 
drivers,  of  London,  of  450  tons,  sixteen  guns,  eight  and 
nine  pounders,  with  a  complement  of  thirty-five  men  ; 
the  other,  the  ship  Planter,  Captain  Frith,  of  Bristol,  of 
280  tons,  twelve  guns,  twelve  pounders,  and  fifteen  men  ; 
both  with  valuable  cargoes  of  sugar,  coffee,  cotton  and 
cocoa,  thirty  days  out  from  Surinam,  bound  to  London. 
We  took  out  the  prisoners,  put  a  prize-master,  mate  and 
crew  on  board  of  each  of  them,  and  steered  to  the  south 
ward  in  company.  During  the  action  we  had  two  men 


80  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

killed  and  five  wounded.  Every  one  of  the  shrouds  on 
the  larboard  side  were  sht>t  away,  some  of  them  in  two 
or  three  places  ;  the  running  rigging  and  sails  very  much  - 
cut.  In  consequence  of  the  disabled  condition  of  our 
rigging,  and  the  fore-yard  being  gone,  Captain  Maffet 
determined  on  convoying  the  prizes  to  the  first  port  in 
the  United  States  to  refit ;  kept  in  company  with  the 
prizes  until  Wednesday,  the  2d  of  September,  when  at 
half-past  four  A.M.,  we  made  a  large  ship  to  the  eastward, 
standing  to  the  southward  ;  at  half-past  five  she  tacked, 
and  gave  chase  for  us.  We  bore  down,  and  spoke  the 
Pursuit,  and  ordered  the  prize -master  to  tack  to  the 
southward,  and  make  the  first  port  he  could.  At  six 
spoke  the  Planter,  and  informed  him  that  the  ship  in 
chase  was  probably  an  enemy,  and  ordered  him  to  make 
sail  to  the  northward.  At  ten  the  Pursuit  was  out  of 
sight  to  the  southward.  At  eleven  backed  the  main  top 
sail,  the  strange  sail  coming  up  fast  with  the  Planter, 
At  meridian  tacked  to  the  southward.  At  half-past  one 
P.M.,  the  frigate  fired  five  guns  at  the  Planter,  which 
obliged  her  to  bring-to.  Supposing  her  to  be  a  British 
frigate,  as  she  kept  English  colors  flying,  wTe  made  sail  to 
the  westward.  At  half-past  three  P.M.,  the  frigate  and 
the  prize,  Planter  still  in  sight,  lying-to,  the  Planter  with 
American  colors  flying  at  the  mizzen  peak. 

The  frigate  alluded  to  in  this  report  must  have  been 
an  American,  as  I  find  it  subsequently  stated  that 
both  these  prizes  had  arrived  at  a  port  in  the  United 
States. 

Although  the  English  about  this  period,  September, 
1812,  captured  several  of  our  small  privateers,  I  observe, 
by  a  New  York  paper,  that  their  places  were  soon  filled 
by  a  larger  and  better  class,  which  were  then  fitting;  for 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  81 

sea,  namely,  Captain  Bulkely,  an  old  revolutionary 
cruiser,  equipped  a  privateer,  to  carry  twenty  guns, 
at  New  London,  Connecticut.  There  were  also  at  New 
York,  getting  ready  for  a  cruise,  ship  Volunteer,  of 
twenty-two  guns  ;  Chinese,  eighteen  guns  ;  the  schooner 
Isaac  Hull,  seventeen  guns  ;  and  the  schooner  Swallow, 
of  six  guns. 

The  James  Madison,  privateer,  had  been  recently  cap 
tured  by  the  English  frigate  Jason. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  privateer  Paul  Jones,  was  said  to  have  captured 
lately,  some  twelve  or  fifteen  British  vessels  near  the 
Island  of  Porto  Rico,  some  of  them  of  considerable 
value. 

It  is  also  stated  in  a  New  York  newspaper  of  this 
date,  that  from  the  6th  of  April  to  the  22d  of  August, 
266  merchant  vessels  had  arrived  safe  into  that  port, 
viz.,  142  ships,  84  brigs,  and  40  schooners.  Fortunately, 
these  vessels  have  escaped  from  the  fangs  of  the  enemy, 
while  their  own  merchantmen  are  bleeding  at  every 
pore. 

The  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the 
18th  of  June,  presented  to  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  the  free 
dom  of  their  city  in  a  gold  box. 

Boston,  October  I3th. —  "  Privateer-schooner  Fame, 
Captain  Green,  from  a  cruise  of  fifteen  days,  returned 
on  Saturday  evening  last,  has  taken  two  schooners,  one 
loaded  with  salmon,  oil,  etc.,  (considered  valuable),  the 
other  a  new  vessel,  ballasted  with  sugar  ;  parted  with 
them  to  the  westward  of  Halifax.  It  is  worthy  of  re 
mark,  that  the  Fame  was  privateering  in  the  Revolution 
ary  war." 

6 


82  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

Schooner  Jenny,  laden  with  gum,  sugar,  etc.,  sent 
into  Portland  by  the  Teazer. 

Schooner  Adela,  from  Martinique,  under  Spanish 
colors,  laden  with  sugars,  sent  into  New  York  by  the 
Rosamond,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Point-Shares,  from  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick, 
for  Barbadoes,  captured  by  the  letter- of-marque  schooner 
Baltimore,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  voyage  to  France,  and 
sent  into  port.  The  brig  was  laden  with  fish. 

Brig  San  Antonio,  (under  Spanish  colors)  from  Guern 
sey,  for  Jacquemel,  captured  on  the  coast  of  Africa  by 
the  Marengo  of  New  York.  This  vessel  was  richly  laden, 
and  supposed'  to  be  British  property.  She  arrived  at 
Philadelphia. 

Schooner  Single-Cap,  sent  into  the  Mississippi  by  the 
Matilda,  of  Philadelphia. 

Schooner  Fame,  from  Trinidad  for  Cayenne,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Non 
such,  of  Baltimore. 

Ship  Phoenix,  twelve  guns,  seventeen  men,  from  Ber 
muda  for  Jamaica,  cargo,  one  hundred  pipes  Fayal  wine  ; 
sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Mary  Ann,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Favorite,  222  tons,  two  guns,  from  Cork  for 
Pictou,  in  ballast,  sent  into  Lynn  by  the  Industry,  of 
that  port. 

Brig  Sir  John  Moore,  from  Dublin  for  Prince  Ed 
ward's  Island,  177  tons  burthen,  sent  into  Lynn  by  the 
Industry. 

Brig  Lord  Sheffield,  from  Teneriffefor  Quebec,  burnt 
by  the  Marengo,  after  taking  out  a  few  small  articles. 

Schooner  Betsey  Ann,  from  the  West  Indies,  laden 
with  sugar,  captured  in  sight  of  Halifax  harbor,  by  the 
Fame,  privateer,  and  sent  into  Salem. 

Brig  Henry,  from  Liverpool  for  Halifax,  laden  with 


18121  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  83 


crates,  salt  and  coal  ;  a  valuable  vessel,  sent  into  Salem 
by  the  John,  of  that  port. 

Schooner  Four  Brothers,  from  the  West  Indies  for 
Newfoundland,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Fame,  priva 
teer. 

Schooner  Four  Sons,  from  the  Bay  of  Chaleur,  laden 
with  fish  and  furs,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Fame,  of  that 
port. 

Two  schooners  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Dart,  priva 
teer,  one  in  ballast,  the  other  with  live  stock. 

Schooner  Antelope,  of  Curracoa,  sent  into  Charleston 
by  the  Rosamond. 

SchooneF  Dawson,  captured  off  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 
laden  with  sugar,  rum,  and  coffee;  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  Wasp  of  Baltimore. 

Man}r  American  vessels,  with  goods  from  England, 
have  been  sent  into  port  by  our  privateers,  on  suspicion, 
of  having  British  property  on  board.  These  have  not 
been  noticed  in  our  list,  but  it  appears  the  facts  were, 
in  many  instances,  as  they  were  supposed,  and  when 
proper  proofs  were  furnished,  condemnations  to  a  great 
amount  took  place.  It  is  positively  stated,  that  one  of 
the  Yankee's  prizes  of  this  description,  afforded  the  cap 
tors  the  enormous  sum  of  $200,000. 

Fair  Haven,  Mass.,  October  23d. — [j  The  beautiful  new 
privateer  Governor  Gerry,  of  250  tons,  pierced  for  18 
guns,  was  launched  from  the  ship  yard  in  this  village, 
on  Wednesday  last.  She  is  a  most  beautiful  vessel, 
built  of  the  best  materials,  and  good  judges  are  of  opin 
ion  that  she  will  be  a  remarkably  swift  sailer.  The  keel 
of  this  vessel  was  laid  only  forty-eight  days  previous  to 
the  launch." 

A  specimen  of  English  vanity — 


81  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

"  The  winds  and  seas  are  Britain's  wide  domain, 
And  not  a  sail  but  by  permission  spreads." 

British  Naval  Register. 

The  gallant  Commodore  Barney  has  recently  returned 
home  to  Baltimore,  in  his  privateer-schooner  Rossie,  on 
the  10th  of  November,  from  a  second  successful  cruise, 
and  had  the  audacity  to  traverse  over  a  pretty  large 
space  of  ocean  water,  without  asking  permission  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty. 

I  herewith  extract  from  the  journal  of  the  brave  Com 
modore,  the  substance  of  his  late  cruise.  It  proceeds 
as  follows  :—- 

July  12th. — Sailed  from  Baltimore. 

July  \5th. — Left  Cape  Henry. 

July  Vlth. — Spoke  ship  Electra,  of  Philadelphia  ;  in 
formed  her  of  the  war. 

Juli/Zlst. — Spoke  brig  Triton,  of  Portsmouth;  inform 
ed  her  of  the  war. 

Spoke  ship  Rising  Sun,  of  Baltimore;  informed  her  of 
the  war. 

July  2>2d. — Seized  the  brig  Nymph,  of  Newburyport, 
for  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  ;  spoke  ship  Re 
serve,  of  Bath  ;  spoke  a  brig  from  Lisbon  for  New  Lon 
don;  informed  her  of  the  wTar. 

July  23d — Was  chased  by  a  frigate,  fired  twenty-five 
shots  at  us,  out-sailed  her. 

July  30th. — Chased  by  a  frigate,  out-sailed  her. 

July  3lst. — Took,  and  burned  the  ship  Princess 
Royal. 

August  1st. — Took  and  manned  the  ship  Kitty. 

August  2d. — Took  and  burnt  the  following  :  brig  Fame, 
brig  Devonshire,  schooner  Squid ;  and  took  the  brig 
Brothers,  put  on  board  of  her  sixty  prisoners,  and  sent  her 
to  St.  Johns,  to  be  exchanged  for  as  many  Americans. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  85 

August  Sd. — Took  and  sunk  the  brig  Henry  and 
schooner  Race  Horse  ;  burned  the  schooner  Halifax, 
manned  the  brig  William  (arrived),  and  gave  the 
schooner  two  Brothers  forty  prisoners,  and  sent  them  to 
St.  John's  on  parole. 

August  2th. — Took  the  ship  Jenny,  after  a  short  ac 
tion,  she  mounting  twelve  guns ;  sent  her  to  the  United 
States  (arrived), 

August  10th. — Seized  the  brig  Rebecca,  of  Saco,  from 
London,  for  a  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  (ar 
rived). 

August  l&h. — Spoke  brig  Hazard,  from  Cadiz  ;  in 
formed  her  of  the  war. 

August  Vlth. — Spoke  brig  Favorite,  from  Cadiz  to 
Boston. 

August  20th. — Spoke  brig  John  Adams,  who  had  been 
captured  and  plundered  by  the  Guerriere,  and  let  go. 

August  28th. — Seized  the  ship  Euphrates,  of  New  Bed 
ford,  for  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  (arrived). 

August  22th. — Spoke  a  brig,  prize  to  the  Benjamin 
Franklin  ;  spoke  ship  Jewell,  of  Portland  •  informed  her 
of  the  war. 

August  30th. — Spoke  schooner  Ann  and  Mary,  of  New 
London  ;  informed  her  of  the  war. 

September  *Jth. — Spoke  a  brig  from  Providence,  R.  I., 
in  distress  ;  left  her  under  the  care  of  the  Revenue  Cutter, 
of  Newport. 

September  2th. — Chased  by  three  ships  of  war,  which 
did  not  continue  long,  for  we  outsailed  them  without 
difficulty. 

September  IQth. — Spoke  ship  Joseph,  from  Bonavista  ; 
informed  her  of  the  war. 

September  llth. — Spoke  a  brig,  prize  to  the  schooner 
Saratoga,  of  New  York. 


86  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS-  ]1812. 

September  12th,— Chased  by  a  frigate  six  hours;  out 
sailed  her. 

On  the  16th  September,  Commodore  Barney,  in  the 
privateer-schooner  Rossie,  fell  in  with  his  Britannic  Ma 
jesty's  packet-ship  Princess  Amelia,  when  a  severe  ac- 
€ion  commenced  between  the  two  vessels  at  close  quar 
ters.  It  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  and  during  the  greatest 
part  of  the  time  within  pistol  shot  distance.  Captain 
Barney's  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Long,  was  severely 
wounded,  six  of  his  crew  were  also  wounded  in  the  con 
flict,  but  not  severely,  as  the  most  of  them  soon  after 
recovered.  The  Rossie  suffered  considerably  in  her  rig 
ging  and  sails,  but  nothing  in  her  hull. 

The  loss  of  the  Princess  Amelia  was,  her  Captain, 
sailing-master,  and  one  man  killed  ;  the  master's  mate 
and  six  seamen  wounded.  The  packet  was  terribly  cut 
to  pieces  in  her  hull,  sails  and  rigging. 

September  IQth. — Fell  in  with  three  ships  and  an 
armed  brig ;  exchanged  shot  with  the  Commodore,  re 
ceived  an  eighteen  pound  shot  through  our  quarter, 
wounded  a  man,  and  lodged  in  pur  pump  ;  continued  to 
dog  and  watch  the  above  vessels  four  days  in  hopes  of 
separating  them,  but  in  vain. 

September  23d — Spoke  the  private-armed  schooner 
Globe,  Captain  Murphy,  of  Baltimore  ;  went  in  pursuit 
of  the  above  English  vessels,  but  could,  not  fall  in  with 
them. 

September  26th. — Spoke  a  Spanish  brig  bound  to 
Porto-Rico. 

October  8th. — Took  (in  company  with  the  Globe)  the 
schooner  Jubilee,  and  sent  her  into  port. 

October  9th. — Spoke  a  Spanish  schooner  from  Palma 
for  Porto-Rico. 
October  IQth. —Chased  and  spoke  the  privateer-schooner 


LT" 

Q 
Q_ 


£     £0 


co 

4i 


1812.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  87 

Rapid,  of  Charleston,  S.  0.,  fifty-two  days  out ;  had 
taken  nothing. 

October  22d — Seized  the  ship  Merrimack  for  a  breach 
of  the  non-importation  act.  The  result  is,  3,698  tons 
of  shipping,  valued  at  upwards  of  $1,500,000,  and 
217  prisoners. 

Brig  Diamond,  220  tons,  twelve  guns,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  cotton  and  logwood,  and  $2,500  in  gold  ;  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Alfred,  privateer. 

Brig  George,  270  tons,  laden  with  sugar  and  cotton, 
sent  into  the  same  port  by  the  Alfred,  both  of  these  ves 
sels  were  from  Brazil,  and  were  valued  at  $120,000. 

Brig  Neptune,  a  prize  to  the  John,  of  Salem,  arrived 
at  that  port. 

Ship  Jane,  of  Port  Glasgow,  a  prize  to  the  John,  also 
arrived  at  Salem. 

A  schooner  laden  with  timber,  taken  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  given  up  to  release  the  prison 
ers  she  had  taken. 

Sloop  Louisa  Ann,  laden  with  molasses,  seized  and 
captured  by  a  boat  from  the  Benjamin  Franklin  priva 
teer,  with  seven  men,  in  Trinity  Harbor,  Martinique, 
under  the  guns  of  a  battery  of  twelve  eighteen 
pounders. 

A  GALLANT  BUT  UNPROFITABLE  CONFLICT. 

Captain  Levely,  of  the  privateer  Nonsuch,  of  Balti 
more,  had  a  severe  engagement  with  an  English  ship  and 
schooner,  off  Martinique,  on  the  28th  of  September. 
The  following  is  an  extract  of  the  action  from  the  log 
book  of  the  Nonsuch : 

"The  Nonsuch  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  Captain 
Levely,  carrying  twelve  twelve-pound  carronades,  and 
(at  that  time)  between  eighty  and  ninty  men,  on  the  28th 


88  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

of  September,  fell  in  with  a  ship  and  schooner  under 
British  colors,  the  ship  carrying  sixteen  eighteen-pound 
carronades  and  two  hundred  men,  including  soldiers ; 
and  the  schooner  six  four-pounders  and  sixty  men. 
When  within  reach  of  the  ship,  she  gave  us  a  broadside. 
We  bore  down  upon  her  and  hoisted  American  colors, 
and  returned  ten  broadsides,  accompanied  each  time 
with  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry,  the  ship  and  schooner 
keeping  up  a  heavy  fire  upon  us  with  their  great  guns 
and  musketry.  The  engagement  lasted  three  hours  and 
twenty  minutes,  when  the  bolts  and  breachings  of  our 
guns,  fore  and  aft,  were  carried  away  both  sides.  We 
could  then  only  use  our  musketry,  or  we  should  cer 
tainly  have  captured  them  both.  We  dismounted  sev 
eral  of  the  ship's  guns,  and  damaged  her  very  much  in 
her  hull  and  rigging.  From  the  confusion  which  appeared 
on  board,  we  judge  that  we  must  have  killed  and 
wounded  a  considerable  number  of  men ;  she  bore  away 
for  Martinico ;  we  being  much  crippled  in  our  sails  and 
rigging,  could  not  pursue  her.  After  getting  our  decks 
cleared  a  little,  we  hauled  to  the  northward,  not  only  to 
repair  our  sails  and  rigging,  but  to  refit  gun  carriages, 
and  attend  to  the  sick  and  wounded. 

"During  the  action,  we  received  several  shot  in  our 
hull,  and  some  two  or  three  between  wind  and  water, 
which  caused  the  schooner  to  leak  considerably,  until 
we  had  time  to  plug  them  up  and  make  suitable  re 
pairs. 

"  Our  crew  all  fought  like  true  Americans.  Officers 
wounded  :  Mr.  Wilkinson,  dangerously  in  the  body,  since 
dead  ;  Mr.  Williams,  prize-master,  severely  in  the  feet. 
Seamen  killed  :  Samuel  Christian,  Lewis  Riley,  David 
McCarthy  ;  we  had  also  six  seamen  wounded. 

"We  subsequently  learned  that  after  the  action  the 


1812.]  TILE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  89 

ship  arrived  at  Barbadoes,  and  that  she  had  seven  of 
her  crew  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  Among  the  for 
mer  were  some  persons  of  distinction." 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Sloop  Yenus,  of  Jamaica,  burnt  by  the  Two  Brothers, 
of  New  Orleans. 

Brigs  Jane  and  Charlotte,  laden  with  salt,  coals,  crates, 
and  a  few  bales  of  dry-goods,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
America,  privateer. 

Brig  Francis,  from  St.  John's,  Porto-Rico,  for  Marti 
nique,  laden  with  bullocks,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Nonsuch,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Porgie,  from  Antigua,  laden  with  rum  and  mo 
lasses,  sent  into  Norfolk  by  the  Highflyer,  on  her  second 
cruise. 

Ship  Ned,  of  Glasgow,  ten  guns,  nine-pounders,  six 
teen  men,  laden  with  timber,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  John 
and  George  privateer  of  that  place,  after  a  smart  action. 
The  John  and  George  carries  one  twelve  and  two  three- 
pounders.  She  had  on  board  thirty-eight  men,  includ 
ing  officers. 

Schooner ,  captured  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  laden 

with  oil,  seal  skins,  etc.,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Fame, 
of  that  port. 

The  following  memorial  to  Congress  will  evince  the 
state  of  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  privateering,  at  this 
period  of  the  war. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled. 

The  memorial  of  the  subscribers,  owners  of  and  agents 
for  24  private  armed  vessels,  fitted  out  of  the  port  of 
New  York,  and  other  citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York, 


90  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

respectfully  sheweth  :  That  your  memorialists,  convinced 
that  the  successful  issue  of  the  present  war  against 
Great  Britain  materially  depends  upon  the  effectual  an 
noyance  of  the  enemy,  have,  many  of  them,  engaged  in 
the  equipment  of  private  armed  vessels.  The  extent  to 
which  such  enterprises  may  be  carried,  to  the  injury  of 
the  foe,  is  incalculable  ;  for  no  bounds  can  be  prescribed 
to  the  hardihood  and  daring  of  American  seamen.  The 
great  advantages  of  this  cheap  and  effectual  mode  of 
warfare,  peculiarly  entitle  it,  in  the  opinion  of  your  me 
morialists,  to  the  serious  regard  and  fostering  care  of 
Congress  ;  the  effect  of  promoting  or  discouraging  it,  will 
be  felt,  not  only  by  those  immediately  concerned,  but 
throughout  every  department  and  member  of  the  war. 
To  the  bold  and  successful  efforts  of  our  private  armed 
vessels,  we  may  attribute,  in  a  great  degree,  a  growing 
confidence  in  every  class  of  citizens,  in  our  ability  to 
contend,  at  least  on  equal  terms,  with  the  self-styled  mis 
tress  of  the  ocean.  The  examples  of  heroism  in  our 
seamen  of  the  east,  cannot  fail  to  inspire  with  a  corres 
ponding  ardor  our  soldiers  of  the  north  and  west,  pro 
ducing  a  rivalship  of  patriotism  and  courage,  ensuring  a 
war  of  glory,  terminating  in  an  honorable  and  lasting 
peace. 

The  spirit  with  which  our  maritime  citizens  have  en 
gaged  in  such  adventures,  and  which  if  properly  excited 
and  encouraged,  would  prove  so  destructive  to  the 
enemy,  is  in  danger  of  being  extinguished,  unless  Con 
gress  interpose  immediately  and  effectually  for  its  pre 
servation. 

For  this  object,  a  diminution  of  the  high  duties  im 
posed  on  prize  goods  is  indispensable.  The  captured 
property,  loaded  with  these  duties,  in  addition  to  the 
charges  attending  its  condemnation  and  sale,  produces, 


1S12.J  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  91 

even  at  this  early  period,  and  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances,  net  profits  utterly  inadequate  to  the  risk 
and  danger  of  such  enterprises,  and  in  some  instances  is 
attended  with  an  absolute  loss  to  the  captors.  The  cases 
in  which  profit  is  obtained  must  daily  lessen  as  adven 
tures  increase,  until  all  hope  of  advantage  being  pre 
cluded,  a  stop  will  effectually  be  put  to  further  at 
tempts. 

Your  memorialists  believe,  that  as  a  means  of  revenue, 
it  will  eventually  prove  its  own  destruction,  for  though 
large  sums  may  at  present  be  obtained  from  it,  by  di 
minishing  the  expectation  of  profit,  it  will  soon,  not  only 
prevent  the  increase  of  private  armed  vessels,  but  drive 
them  from  the  ocean  as  a  hopeless  speculation  or  certain 
loss.  A  reduction  of  the  duties  by  encouraging  addi 
tional  adventurers,  would  soon  more  than  indemnify  the 
treasury  for  any  temporary  loss  it  might  sustain,  in  the 
increased  number  of  subjects  of  duty  which  it  would 
produce. 

In  addition  to  the  burden  of  the  high  duties  above 
complained  of,  these  enterprises  are  subject  to  other 
grievances,  which  we  respectfully  hope  will  meet  a 
speedy  and  complete  redress. 

By  the  4th  section  of  the  act  concerning  letters- 
of-marq.ue,  prizes,  and  prize-goods,  it  is  provided  "That 
all  captures  and  prizes  of  vessels  and  property  shall  be 
forfeited,  and  shall  accrue  to  the  owners,  officers  and 
crews  of  the  vessels  by  whom  such  captures  and  prizes 
shall  be  made,  and  on  due  condemnation  had,  shall  be 
distributed  according  to  any  agreement  which  shall  be 
written  between  them,  and  if  there  be  no  such  agree 
ment,  then  one  moiety  to  the  owners,  the  other  to  the 
officers  and  crew,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  according  to  the 
rules  prescribed  for  the  distribution  of  prize-money,  by 


92  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

the  act  entitled  '  An  act  for  the  better  government  of 
the  Navy  of  the  United  States.'  To  this  section  no  other 
construction  can,  in  the  opinion  of  your  memorialists, 
reasonably  be  given,  than  that  the  capture,  when  ascer 
tained  to  be  a  lawful  prize,  is  to  be  at  the  disposal  of 
the  captors,  to  be  by  them  distributed  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  law. 

The  object  of  the  interference  of  the  Court  of  Admi 
ralty,  is  simply  to  inquire  into  the  character  of  the 
prize,  which,  if  enemy's  property  when  captured,  "ac 
crues"  and  "is  forfeited"  by  the  taking  to  the  captors, 
whose  property  therein  is  affirmed,  not  acquired,  by  the 
act  of  condemnation.  This  property  is,  in  the  opinion 
of  your  memorialists,  the  undoubted  right  of  the  owner, 
derived  from  all  moral  and  political  rules  of  law  and 
justice,  to  dispose  of  as  he  deems  proper  ;  a  right  not  to 
be  divested  but  by  delinquency  or  crime.  In  the  dis 
trict  of  New  York,  of  which  your  memorialists  are  inha 
bitants,  the  Court  of  Admiralty  has  decided,  that  prizes 
when  condemned  shall,  in  every  instance,  be  sold  by  the 
marshal,  and  the  proceeds  deposited  in  the  hands  of  the 
clerk  of  the  court,  to  be  by  him  distributed. 

Whilst  your  memorialists  submit  with  respect  to  the 
authority  whence  this  decision  emanates,  they  must  com 
plain  of  the  hardness  of  its  consequences,  from  which 
they  respectfully  hope  Congress  will  see  the  necessity  of 
affording  immediate  relief.  It  is  manifest  that  sales  by 
the  marshal  must,  in  almost  every  instance,  be  conducted 
hastily,  and  without  regard  to  the  value  of  the  pro 
perty,  which  will  often  be  sold  at  times  and  places  unfa 
vorable  to  the  sale  of  the  commodity.  The  owners  will 
thus  be  enforced  and  passive  spectators  of  the  totaji  sac 
rifice  of  valuable  property,  which,  in  their  own  hands, 
would  yield  a  certain  profit,  were  they  permitted  to  dis- 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  93 

pose  of  it  at  such  times  and  places,  on  such  terms  of 
credit,  and  in  such  quantities  as  are  accommodated  to  the 
demand. 

By  this  proceeding,  not  only  are  the  captors  deprived 
of  the  common  right  of  managing  their  own  concerns  in 
their  own  way,  but  when  their  property  is  sacrificed  at 
any  price,  the  proceeds  are  loaded  with  commissions  of 
officers  for  making  that  very  sacrifice.  Of  these  com 
missions  the  marshal  receives  one  and  a-quarter  per  cent, 
on  the  gross  amount  of  sales,  which  includes  the  duty  and 
the  humane  fund,  established  for  the  support  of  disabled 
seamen  and  their  families,  and  constitutes  tax  upon  tax. 
This  gross  amount,  so  stripped  of  one  and  a-quarter  per 
cent.,  then  passes  into  the  hands  of  the  clerk,  where  it 
again  suffers  a  diminution  of  one  and  a-quarter  per  cent, 
for  receiving  and  paying  over.  After  these  deductions, 
the  payment  of  the  duties,  the  costs  of  condemnation, 
together  with  the  extra  ministerial  and  indispensable 
charges  of  the  two  per  cent,  invalid  fund,  agency, 
wharfage,  etc.,  the  owners,  officers,  and  crew  are  pre 
sented  with  a  lean  account  of  profit,  if  not  of  absolute 
loss,  chilling  to  the  hopes  and  unnerving  the  arm  of  pri 
vate  enterprise.  Your  memorialists  trust  that  it  is  un 
necessary  to  enlarge  on  the  utter  impossibility  of  aiding 
the  country  by  a  continuance  of  services  burdened  with 
such  grievous  impositions.  To  Congress  they  confidently 
look  for  legal  provisions,  that  may  secure  to  owners  of 
private  armed  vessels  an  adequate  return  for  their  ex 
pense  and  risk,  to  the  brave  officers  and  crew  the  reward 
of  their  gallant  services,  and  to  their  widows  and  orphans 
the  humane  fund,  established  by  law,  unimpaired  by 
official  exactions.  Your  memorialists  would  suggest  the 
expediency  of  shortening  the  time  for  effecting  the  con 
demnation  of  prizes,  and  of  limiting  the  ordinary  fees 


94  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1832. 

of  officers  of  the  prize  court  to  a  certain  sum,  as  was 
formerly  done  in  this  country,  when  a  colony  of  Great 
Britain . 

Your  memorialists,  while  they  direct  the  attention  of 
Congress  to  the  foregoing  evils,  would  respectfully  fur 
ther  suggest  the  propriety  and  importance  of  granting 
to  the  owners,  officers  and  crews  of  private  armed  ves 
sels,  a  bounty  for  the  destruction  of  enemy's  property. 
It  will  often  be  expedient  to  destroy  vessels  and  goods 
captured  to  prevent  almost  certain  recapture.  Thus, 
whilst  it  promotes  the  object  of  the  war  in  distressing 
the  enemy,  produces  no  benefit  to  the  captors.  A 
bounty,  proportioned  to  the  tonnage  of  the  vessels  de 
stroyed  would  prompt  to  much  activity  and  vigilance, 
and  insure  the  loss  of  much  valuable  property  to  the 
enemy,  in  situations  whence  it  could  not  safely  be  car 
ried  into  port,  or  not  without  the  deduction  of  a  force 
disabling  the  captors  for  other  operations  of  equal  or 
greater  importance. 

To  redress  the  evils  above  complained  of,  and  to  en 
courage  and  promote  a  system  of  maritime  warfare  so 
beneficial  to  the  country,  and  so  mischievous  to  the 
enemy,  your  memorialists  would  earnestly  recommend 
that  provision  be  made  by  law — For  reducing  the  duties 
on  prizes ;  for  delivering  the  prize  property  or  condem 
nation  to  the  captors,  to  be  by  them  disposed  of  and  dis 
tributed  ;  for  shortening  the  time  necessary  to  procure 
condemnation  ;  for  limiting  the  fees  of  the  officers  of  the 
prize  courts  to  a  certain  sum  ;  and  for  authorizing  prize 
owners  or  their  agents  to  order  prizes  arrived  in  one 
port  to  any  other  port  at  their  discretion,  at  any  time 
before  the  actual  libelling  of  such  prizes. 

Your  memorialists  are  convinced  that  such  legal  pro 
visions,  aiding  and  encouraging  the  patriotic  spirit  of 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  95 

our  citizens,  will  soon  cover  the  ocean  with  an  active, 

hostile  armament,   which  no    vigilance  can  elude,   and 

from  which   no  force,    however  great,  can   effectually 
protect. 

(Signed)  THOMAS  FARMER, 

THOMAS  JENKINS. 

New  York,  Nov.  20th,  1812. 

The  above  memorial  was  signed  by  a  large  number 
of  the  most  respectable  merchants  belonging  to  New 
York. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Schooner  Robin,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Revenge, 
of  Salem. 

Schooner  Sally,  of  Curacoa,  sent  into  Charleston  by 
the  Black  Joke,  of  New  York,  and  George  Washington, 
of  Norfolk. 

Sloop ,  belonging  to  Tortola,  sent  into  Charles 
ton  by  the  Saucy  Jack. 

Brig  John,  ten  guns,  twelve-pounders,  from  Laguira 
for  Gibraltar  ;  a  new  and  valuable  vessel,  laden  with 
coffee  and  cocoa,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Benjamin 
Franklin,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  Three  Sisters,  120  tons  burthen,  laden  with 
plaster,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Fame,  privateer.  The 
Fame  is  only  thirty  tons  burthen. 

Schooner  Comet,  two  guns  and  small  arms,  captured 
on  the  south  side  of  St.  Domingo,  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  Rapid,  of  Charleston.  She  was  laden  with  sugar, 
beeswax,  tobacco,  and  dry-goods. 

Schooner  Searcher,  a  New  Providence  privateer,  of 
one  gun  and  twenty  men,  captured  by  the  Rapid,  and 
burnt. 

Schooner  Mary,  of  St.  Thomas,  captured  by  the  Rapid 


96  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

and  ransomed,  not  having  men  to  spare  to  send  her 
home. 

Brig  Union,  from  Guernsey  for  Granada,  in  ballast, 
sent  into  Old  Town  by  the  General  Armstrong,  priva 
teer,  of  New  York.  The  Union  carried  six  guns. 

Schooner  Neptune,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  salt,  and  oil, 
taken  by  the  Revenge,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  Cape 
Ann. 

Barque  Fisher,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  with  a  very  valu 
able  cargo,  and  considerable  specie,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth. 

Brig  James  Bray,  with  rum  and  pimento,  arrived  at 
Boston,  a  prize  to  the  Bunker  Hill. 

Brig  Lady  Harriot,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  from  Cadiz, 
sent  into  New  York  by  the  Orders  in  Council,  a  priva 
teer  of  that  place .  Good  ! 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  same  and  ransomed. 

Brig  Freedom,  700  hhds.  of  salt,  from  Cadiz  for  St. 
Johns,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Thorn,  privateer. 

The  schooner  America,  of  Newburyport,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  privateers  Fame,  Industry,  and  Dromo, 
laden  with  salt. 

These  privateers  passing  Indian  Island,  a  British  post, 
were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy.  They  returned  the 
compliment,  and  determined  to  seize  all  the  vessels  then 
lying  there.  They  succeed^  only  in  getting  their  own 
neighbor's  vessel  out,  the  rest  being  run  on  shore.  She 
is  a  good  prize,  having  been  trading  with  the  enemy. 

Brig  Fancy,  for  Jamaica,  a  valuable  vessel,  sent  into 
New  London  by  the  Joel  Barlow,  privateer. 

Schooner  John  Bull,  a  king's  packet  out  of  New 
Providence,  chased  on  shore  on  Crooked  Island  by  the 
Rover,  of  New  York. 

Ship  John  Hamilton,  550  tons,  mounting  ten  guns. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  97 

twelve  pounders,  and  thirty  men,  from  Honduras  for 
London,  laden  with  700  tons  of  mahogany,  sent  into  Bal 
timore  by  the  Dolphin  privateer  of  that  port,  after  a 
smart  action,  but  without  loss  of  a  single  life  on  either 
side,  though  several  were  wounded.  A  fine  prize. 

Schooner  Loreen,  from  Martinique  for  St.  Martin's, 
laden  with  sugar  and  coffee,  sent  into  Philadelphia  by 
the  Revenge,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Bacchus,  of  Port  Glasgow,  in  ballast,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Revenge,  privateer. 

Brig  Yenus,  from  Brazil  for  London,  ten  guns,  richly 
laden  with  562  bales  of  cotton,  fustic,  etc.,  sent  into 
Savannah  by  the  privateer  Polly,  of  Salem. 

Nine  British  vessels  sunk,  burnt  and  destroyed,  by 
the  Patriot,  of  New  York,  during  a  cruise  of  fifty-six  days. 

Packet  Townsend,  from  Falmouth  (England),  for 
Barbadoes,  heavily  armed,  captured  by  the  Tom,  of  Bal 
timore,  after  a  severe  engagement,  in  which  the  captain 
of  the  Townsend  and  four  of  her  men  were  killed  and 
several  wounded.  The  Tom  was  but  little  injured,  and 
had  only  two  men  wounded.  The  mail  was  thrown 
overboard,  but  recovered  by  the  Bona,  and  brought  to 
Baltimore  a  few  days  after. 

Brig  Burchall,  a  packet  from  Barbadoes  for  Demarara, 
with  an  English  commissary  and  his  lady  on  board,  was 
captured  by  the  High  Flyer,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into 
that  port.  The  High  Flyer  has  captured  a  number  of 
droggers,  (coasting  vessels),  plying  between  the  islands 
of  the  West  Indies  ;  she  released  one  of  them  with  the 
commissary  and  seventy-two  prisoners,  and  sent  her  as 
a  flag  of  truce  into  Demarara.  The  Governor  (Carmi- 
chael)  returned  a  complimentary  letter  to  her  captain 
for  his  kind  treatment  of  them. 

Brig  Criterion,  sont  into  New  York. 
7 


98  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

Schooner ,  driven  ashore  on  the  coast  of  Nova 

Scotia,  and  burnt  by  the  Revenge,  of  Salem. 

Sloop  Nelly  and  Parmelia,  captured  by  the  Revenge, 
of  Philadelphia,  was  wrecked  on  Chincoteague  Shoals  ; 
crew  and  cargo  saved. 

Schooner  -  — ,  from  Quebec,  sent  into  New  York  by 
the  Retaliation,  of  that  port. 

Ship  -  — ,  of  twenty-two  guns,  and  full  of  men, 
driven  on  shore  after  an  engagement  of  thirty-five  min 
utes,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Demarara  River,  by  the  Gen. 
Armstrong,  of  New  York.  This  privateer  has  returned 
to  port  after  a  brilliant  cruise,  having  captured  among 
others,  three  heavily  armed  and  very  valuable  vessels, 
neither  of  which  had  been  heard  of  when  she  arrived. 
She  also  seized  and  gave  up  several  small  vessels. 

Brig  Two  Brothers,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Ben 
jamin  Franklin,  privateer. 

Brig  Active,' of  ten  guns,  valuable,  sent  into  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  by  the  High  Flyer,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  -  — ,  sent  into  Portland  by  a  letter-of-rnarque 
brig  from  that  port  for  France. 

Brig  Pomona,  from  Lisbon  for  Newfoundland,  a  valu 
able  vessel,  carrying  eight  twelve-pounders,  sent  into 
Belfast,  Maine,  by  the  letter-of-marque  Leo,  on  her 
voyage  to  France. 

Ship  Betsey,  -  guns,  for  Glasgow,  supposed  to 

have  a  quantity  of  specie  on  board,  sent  into  Wilming 
ton,  N.  C.,  by  the  Revenge,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Dart,  eight  guns,  of  and  from  Port  Glasgow, 
richly  laden  with  rum,  cotton,  and  cocoa,  captured  near 
the  Western  Islands  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and  sent 
into  that  port.  The  America  had  captured  two  other 
very  valuable  vessels,  and  at  the  time  the  prize  left  her, 
had  upwards  of  seventy  prisoners  on  board. 


1812.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  99 

Ship  Queen,  sixteen  guns  and  forty  men,  from  Liver 
pool,  with  a  cargo  invoiced  at  from' £70, 000  to  £100,000, 
sterling,  captured  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  of  New  York, 
but  unfortunately  wrecked  off  Nantucket.  She  was, 
perhaps,  the  most  valuable  prize  yet  made.  This  ship 
was  bound  to  Surinam,  and  was  bravely  defended,  the 
Captain,  his  first  officer,  and  nine  of  his  crew  being 
killed  before  she  was  surrendered.  The  Gen.  Armstrong 
was  not  much  injured  in  the  contest. 

Schooner  -  — ,  laden  with  dry  goods,  etc.,  from  Ja 
maica-  for  the  Spanish  Main,  valuable,  sent  into  Savan 
nah  by  the  Liberty,  of  Baltimore.  The  prize  carried  two 
guns  and  had  thirty  men  ;  the  privateer  had  only  one 
gun  and  forty  men. 

Brig  Lucy  and  Alida,  a  very  valuable  prize  to  the 
Revenge,  of  Norfolk,  and  sent  into  that  port.  The  brig 
was  first  taken  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  of  New  York, 
retaken  by  the  British  letter-of-marque  ship  Brenton,  of 
Liverpool,  and  then  fallen  in  with  by  the  Revenge,  by 
whom  she  was  sent  into  port.  She  has  a  full  cargo  of 
dry-goods. 

The  schooner  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Liberty  is 
said  to  be  worth  $60,000. 

Three  vessels  captured  and  destroyed  by  the  privateer 
Jack's  Favorite. 

Schooner  Swift,  of  Plymouth  (England),  from  St. 
Michael's,  taken  by  the  Rolla,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 
In  a  severe  gale  of  wind,  Captain  Dewley  was  com 
pelled  to  throw  overboard  all  his  guns  but  one,  but  the 
crew,  sixty  in  number,  determined  to  continue  the 
cruise.  Near  Madeira,  from  the  12th  to  the  15th  of 
December,  without  the  loss  of  one  man,  the  Rolla  cap 
tured,  manned,  and  ordered  for  the  first  port,  the-fol- 


100  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

lowing  immensely  valuable  vessels,  being  a  part  of  the 
Cork  fleet  : 

Ship  Mary,  fourteen  guns,  of  Bristol,  laden  with  hard 
wares,  crates,  etc.  ; 

Ship  Eliza,  of  ten  guns,  of  do.,  laden  with  20,000 
bushels  of  wheat  ; 

Ship  Rio  Nouva,  eighteen  guns,  of  London,  laden 
with  dry  goods  ; 

Ship  Apollo,  ten  guns,  deeply  laden  with  king's  stores  ; 

Brig  Boroso,  six  guns,  of  Cork,  laden  with  dry  goods, 
beef  and  candles  ; 

Schooner ,  of  Aberdeen,  given  up  to  discharge 

the  prisoners  ; 

Grand  total  :  seven  vessels,  fifty-eight  cannon,  150 
prisoners,  and  property  worth  between  two  and  three 
millions  of  dollars. 

Shall  the  men  that  dare  such  deeds  as  these  be  stolen 
from  their  country  ?  No.  "  Impressment  must  cease." 

Sloop  Reasonable,  from  Porto  Rico  for  Martinique, 
chased  on  shore  on  the  north-east  end  of  the  former,  by 
the  Liberty,  and  destroyed. 

Schooner  Maria,  from  Jamaica  for  the  Bay  of  Hondu 
ras,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  Liberty,  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Catharine,  three  guns  and  twenty-four  men, 
cargo,  provisions  and  dry  goods,  sent  into  Charleston,  a 
prize  to  the  Eagle  and  Lady  Madison,  privateers  of  that 
port. 

Schooner  Maria,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  dry-goods, 
captured  by  the  above,  and  ^  released  to  discharge  their 
prisoners,  after  removing  the  cargo. 

Schooner  Rebecca,  laden  with  sugar  and  molasses, 
from  Trinidad  for  Halifax,  sent  into  New  London  by 
the  privateer  Jack's  Favorite. 


1812.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  101 

Ship  Hope,  twelve  guns,  from  St.  Thomas  for  Glas 
gow,  400  tons  burthen,  with  a  full  cargo  of  rum,  sugar, 
cotton,  etc.,  valuable,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Amer 
ica,  of  Salem. 

Ship  Ralph,  from  Quebec  for  London,  a  very  large 
vessel,  mounting  eight  guns,  laden  with  timber,  etc., 
sent  into  Portland  by  the  same. 

Brig  Euphemia,  ten  guns,  from  Laguira  for  Gibraltar, 
laden  with  400,000  pounds  of  coffee,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  America. 

A  brig  arid  a  schooner,  captured  by  the  Decatur,  off 
Madeira,  and  sent  to  France. 

Schooner  Meadow,  captured  by  the  Sparrow,  and  re 
leased,  after  divesting  her  of  a  quantity  of  dry-goods. 

Schooner  Erin, from  Curacoa  for  Jacquemel,  laden  with 
dry  goods,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Eagle,  of  that  port. 

Schooner  Mary,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from  Porto 
Rico  for  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Eagle,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Peggy,  of  Barbadoes,  from  St.  John's  (New 
foundland),  for  St.  Lucia,  taken  from  under  the  convoy 
of  two  British  sloops  of  war,  by  the  Hunter,  privateer, 
and  sent  into  Boston. 

Ship  Arabella,  of  500  tons,  eight  guns,  coppered, 
laden  with  coal,  plantation  utensils,  etc.,  from  Bristol, 
(England),  for  the  West  Indies,  sent  into  New  London 
by  the  Growler  privateer. 

„  A  schooner  and  sloop,  taken  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
and  released,  after  dispossessing  them  of  452  ounces  of 
gold  dust. 

Brig  -  — ,  captured  by  the  Growler,  privateer,  and 
released  after  dispossessing  her  of  many  valuables. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  Gallinipper,  priva 
teer,  and  ransomed. 


102  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812 

Ship  Neptune,  ten  guns,  from  London  for  Rio  Ja 
neiro,  with  a  very  rich  cargo  of  brandy,  wine  and  dry- 
goods,  sent  into  New  London  by  the  Decatur,  privateer. 
The  Neptune  was  a  large  ship,  coppered,  and  of  the 
first  class.  Her  cargo  was  500  pipes  of  brandy  and  wine, 
twenty  bales  of  dry-goods,  and  ten  cases  of  watches. 
The  Decatur  had  taken  two  other  vessels  and  sent  them 
to  France. 

Ship ,  from  Quebec  for  London,  laden  with  tim 
ber,  comprising  the  whole  frame  of  a  ship  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  sent  into  Kennebeck  by  the  America.  The 
timber  was  doubtless  duly  seasoned,  and  was  just  in  time. 

Ship   ,  twenty  guns,  laden  with  mahogany  and 

logwood,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the  privateer  Spy,  of 
that  port. 

Schooner  Prince  of  Wales,  captured  by  the  Growler, 
and  released  after  taking  out  a  few  pipes  of  Madeira 
wine,  etc. 

Ship  Aurora,  twelve  guns,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of 
dry-goods,  worth  $300,000,  sent  into  Newport  by  the 
privateer  Holkar,  of  New  York. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  Mars,  privateer,  and  sent 
into  England  as  cartels.  The  Mars  arrived  at  New 
London  after  a  cruise  of  one  hundred  days,  during  which 
time  she  took  eleven  prizes,  some  of  them  valuable.  She 
only  fired  seven  shots  during  her  cruise.  She  had  on 
board  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  taken  out 
of  the  different  vessels,  whose  arrival  was  daily  lookejl 
for  at  that  time. 

Brig  Pelican,  from  London  for  Gibraltar,  with  a  cargo 
of  iron  and  fish,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Mars,  of 
New  London. 

Sloop ,  laden  with  hides,  sent  into  Newbern,  N. 

C.,  by  a  privateer  of  that  port. 


1812. 1  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  103 

Brig  Emu,  ten  guns,  twenty-five  men,  from  Ports 
mouth  for  Botany  Bay,  with  forty-nine  women-convicts, 
the  brig  was  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Holkar,  of  that 
port.  The  convicts  and  prisoners  were  landed  on.  the 
Island  of  St.  Vincents  (one  of  the  Cape  de  Verds),  with 
a  stock  of  provisions  sufficient  to  last  them  four  months. 
On  this  Island  there  is  no  want  of  water. 

The  brig  Ann,  10  guns.,  from  Liverpool  for  New  Prov 
idence,  richly  laden  with  dry-goods  and  crates,  worth 
$100,000,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Growler. 

The  privateer  Hunter,  of  Salem,  captured  an  English 
transport  carrying  ten  guns,  laden  with  military  stores, 
but  unfortunately  this  vessel  was  recaptured,  and  sent 
into  Halifax. 

The  Paul  Jones  privateer  captured  on  the  15th  of 
April,  the  British  ship  Lord  Sidmouth,  having  on  board 
a  valuable  cargo,  besides  $80,000  in  specie,  which  was 
removed  to  the  privateer. 

About  the  1st  of  June  the  privateer  Decatur,  Captain 
Nichols,  of  Newburyport,  was  captured  by  the  British 
frigate  Surprise. 

A  SEVERE  COMBAT. 

While  Captain  John  Murphy,  in  the  privateer  Globe, 
of  Baltimore,  was  cruising  off  the  coast  of  Portugal,  he 
fell  in  with  an  Algerine  sloop-of-war,  when  a  severe  en 
gagement  ensued  between  them.  Although  the  action 
was  continued  for  a  period  of  three  hours,  at  half-gun 
shot  distance,  it  is  strange  to  relate  that  the  Globe  lost 
not  a  man,  and  had  but  two  wounded.  The  shot  of 
the  Algerine  almost  invariably  passed  over  her  adver 
sary,  the  Globe  having  received  no  less  than  eighty- 
two  shot  through  her  sails.  How  much  the  sloop-of-war 


104  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1812. 

suffered  was  not  ascertained,  but  from  all  appearances, 
she  must  have  been  terribly  hulled  and  cut  to  pieces. 

The  Globe  hauled  off  to  repair  damages,  and  the  Al- 
gerine  seemed  unwilling  to  renew  the  conflict,  so  that 
both  parties  probably  esteemed  it  a  drawn  battle,  and 
accordingly  separated. 


CHAPTER     IV. 


DESPERATE   BATTLE   BETWEEN   THE   PRIVATEER    GENERAL   ARMSTRONG,    CAPTAIN   CHAMP- 
LIN,  AND    A   BRITISH     FRIGATE A    CRUISE    IN    THE    PRIVATEER-BRIG    YANKEE — BRIG 

ANN,  A  PRIZE  TO  THE  SNAP-DRAGON — SEVERAL  PRIZES  BY  THE  SAUCY  JACK,  OP 
CHARLESTON — HOW  PRIVATEERS  MANAGE  TO  TAKE  MERCHANT  VESSELS  OUT  OF  A 

FLEET — A    COUP-DE-MAIN EXPLOSION  OF   A  PRIVATEER — PRIVATEER  WASP  CAPTURED, 

AFTER  A  RUNNING  FIGHT  OF  NINE  HOURS — A  VALUABLE  PRIZE  BY  THE  PRIVATEER 
SNAP-DRAGON — BRAVE  DEFENCE  OF  THE  SCHOONER  LOTTERY — A  GALLANT  ACTION 
BY  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN,  CAPTAIN  STAFFORD,  OFF  CAPE  ST.  VINCENT,  WITH  AN 
ENGLISH  SHIP  AND  A  BRIG — HE  CAPTURES  THEM  BOTH — PATRIOTISM  OF  THE  CITY 
OF  BALTIMORE— INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  ON  THE  COAST 
OF  BRAZIL  AND  AMONG  THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS. 


FROM  A  CHARLESTON  PAPER  OF  APRIL  5TH. 

"  UNEQUALLED  BRAVERY. — Arrived  at  this  port,  yes 
terday,  the  privateer-schooner  Gen.  Armstrong,  Guy  R. 
Champlin,  Esq.,  commander,  of  New  York,  from  a 
cruise.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  her  log-book  : 

"  March  \\th,  1813. — These  twenty-four  hours  com 
mence  with  moderate  breezes  and  cloudy  weather. 
At  half-past  5  A.M.,  tacked  to  the  southward  and 
eastward.  At  7  discovered  a  sail  bearing  S.S.E.  At 
half-past  7  discovered  her  to  be  at  anchor  under  the 
land.  At  8,  she  got  under  way,  half-past  8,  she  got  sail 
on  her,  and  stood  to  the  northward  ;  she  fired  three  guns 
at  us  and  hoisted  English  colors.  We  were  then  in  five 
fathoms  water,  and  about  five  leagues  to  the  eastward 
of  the  mouth  of  Surinam  river.  At  ten  minutes  past  9, 
we  fired  the  centre  gun  and  hoisted  American  colors. 
At  forty-five  minutes  after,  she  tacked  and  stood  as  near 
us  as  the  wind  would  permit,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  on 
us  from  her  main-deck  guns.  At  a  quarter-past  10,  we 


106  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

standing  to  the  northward,  and  having  the  advantage  of 
reconnoitering  her  with  our  spy-glasses,  were  of  opinion 
she  was  a  British  letter-of-marque,  and  unanimously 
agreed  to  bear  down  and  board.  At  half-past  10,  put 
our  helm  up,  arid  bore  down  on  her  with  intention  to 
give  her  our  starboard  broadside,  and  to  wear  ship,  and 
give  her  our  larboard  broadside,  which  was  all  ready  for 
the  purpose,  and  board  her.  This  was  all  done  with  the 
exception  of  boarding  ;  we  found  she  was  a  frigate, 
pierced  for  fourteen  guns  on  the  main-deck,  six  on  the 
quarter-deck,  and  four  on  the  forecastle;  she  had  her  star 
board  tacks  on  board.  The  wind  being  light,  and  keep 
ing  up  a  constant  fire,  our  vessel  lay  ten  minutes  like  a 
log ;  we  shot  away  her  foretopsail  tie,  and  her  mizzen- 
gaff  halyards,  which  brought  her  colors  down,  and  her 
inizzen  and  main-stay.  We  thought  she  had  struck,  and 
ceased  firing,  but  we  soon  saw  her  colors  flying  again.  We 
recommenced  the  action.  She  lay  for  a  few  minutes 
apparently  unmanageable,  but  soon  got  way  on  her,  and 
opened  a  heavy  fire  on  us  from  her  starboard  broadside 
and  maintop,  no  doubt  with  the  intention  of  sinking  us. 
We  lay  for  the  space  of  forty-five  minutes  within  pistol- 
shot  of  her  ;  our  captain  standing  by  the  centre  gun,  fired 
one  of  his  pistols  and  snapped  the  other,  when  he  was 
wounded  by  a  musket  ball  from  the  ship's  maintop. 
The  ball  passed  through  his  left  shoulder.  He  walked 
aft  to  the  doctor,  and  had  his  wound  dressed.  We  luffed 
to  windward,  and  forereached  on  her.  In  this  action 
we  had  six  men  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  and  all  the 
halyards  of  the  headsails  shot  away,  the  foremast  and 
bowsprit  one-quarter  cut  through,  and  all  the  fore  and 
main  shrouds  but  one  shot  away  ;  both  mainstays  and 
running  rigging  cut  to  pieces  ;  a  great  number  of  shot 
through  our  sails,  and  several  between  wind  and  water, 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  107 

which  caused  our  vessel  to  leak.  There  were  also  a 
number  of  shot  in  our  hull.  In  this  situation  we  began 
to  make  sail  from  her  ;  got  the  foresheet  aft.  and  the  jib 
and  top-gallant-sail  on  her,  and  by  the  assistance  of  our 
sweeps,  we  soon  got  out  of  gunshot.  During  the  time 
we  were  getting  away  from  her,  she  kept  up  a  well- 
directed  fire  for  our  foremast  and  foregaff,  but  without 
effect." 

COMPLIMENT  TO  VALOR. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  private  armed 
schooner  Gen.  Armstrong,  Guy  R.  Champlin,  Esq.,  com 
mander,  convened  at  Tammany  Hall,  pursuant  to  public 
notice,  on  Wednesday  evening,  14th  of  April,  1813,  the 
following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  agents  be  requested  to  transmit 
the  thanks  of  this  meeting  to  Captain  G.  R.  Champlin, 
his  officers,  and  crew,  for  their  gallant  defence  in  an 
action  sustained  between  the  Gen.  Armstrong  and  a 
British  frigate,  off  Surinam. 

"Resolved,  That  the  agents  present  Captain  G.  R. 
Champlin  with  a  sword,  at  the  expense  of  the  stock 
holders,  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  the  rencontre  above 
mentioned. 

"Resolved    That  the  above  resolutions  be  published. 

"  THOMAS  FARMER,  aiainnan, 
"THOMAS  JENKINS,  Secretary." 

REMARKS  ON  THE  ACTION. 

The  writer  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Captain 
Guy  R.  Champlin  for  many  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  London,  Connecticut.  A  more  worthy  and  brave 
patriot,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  any  country.  In 


108  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

the  year  1806,  we  sailed  from  Leghorn  to  New  Orleans, 
myself  as  chief  mate,  and  Mr.  Champlin  as  second  mate 
of  the  ship  Marshall,  of  New  York. 

Soon  after  this  period  we  both  became  ship-masters 
in  the  merchant  service,  and  continued  our  intimacy  for 
more  than  ten  years. 

In  a  conversation  with  him  about  his  action  with  the 
British  frigate  off  Surinam,  he  said  that  when  the  Eng 
lishman's  gaff-haul-yards  were  shot  away,  and  his  colors 
down,  he  thought,  for  a  moment,  she  had  struck.  This 
circumstance  occurred  while  the  privateer  lay  withii 
half  pistol-shot  of  the  enemy's  cabin  windows,  and  had 
his  colors  been  flying,  he  should  have  poured  a  double 
charge  of  round  and  grape  from  his  long-torn  into  his 
cabin  windows,  which  would  have  raked  the  frigate's 
decks  fore  and  aft. 

A  person  on  board  of  the  Gen.  Armstrong  told  me, 
that  after  Captain  Champlin  was  faint  with  the  loss  of 
blood  from  his  wounded  arm,  he  was  persuaded  to  retire 
into  the  cabin,  and  while  lying  there  on  the  floor,  with 
a  loaded  pistol  in  his  hand,  directly  above  the  magazine, 
he  overheard  something  said  on  the  quarter-deck  about 
striking  the  colors.  The  heroic  Champlin  immediately 
requested  the  doctor  to  go  on  deck,  and  "  tell  the  offi 
cers  and  men,  that  if  any  one  of  them  dare  to  strike  the 
colors,  he  would  immediately  fire  into  the  magazine,  and 
blow  them  all  to  hell  together." 

Every  person  on  board  knew  the  character  of  their 
commander,  they  consequently  had  the  choice  of  two 
evils  ;  therefore,  with  what  sails  they  had  left,  and  by 
the  help  of  their  sweeps,  they  made  short  tacks  to  wind 
ward,  and  soon  got  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
shot. 

None  but  a  man  of  a  resolute  and  daring  character 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  109 

would  have  escaped  capture  under  like  circumstances. 
And  although  my  friend  has  been  dead  many  years,  I 
am  happy,  even  at  this  late  day,  to  bear  witness  to  the 
heroic  bravery  of  this  distinguished  American,  who  was 
an  honor  to  his  State  and  country,  and  richly  merits  a 
national  monument  to  perpetuate  his  devoted  patriot 
ism. 

FLEET  SAILING. 

For  the  information  of  those  unacquainted  with  fleet 
sailing,  I  will  endeavor  to  sketch  its  practice  with  the 
English,  in  the  years  1812,  '13,  and  14.  It  had  long 
been  their  general  custom  when  at  war  with  other  na 
tions,  to  send  their  merchant  vessels  to  sea  in  fleets,  espe 
cially  so  when  engaged  in  war  with  France,  or  the  United 
States,  so  that  when  hostilities  commenced  between  us, 
in  this  instance,  their  old  practice  was  rigidly  pursued. 

For  this  purpose,  large  numbers  of  ships  and  vessels 
of  every  description  were  collected  from  Scotland,  Ire 
land,  and  from  their  own  ports,  to  some  convenient 
rendezvous  in  the  English  or  Irish  Channels,  generally  at 
Portsmouth,  Plymouth,  or  Cork.  :. 

To  collect  a  large  fleet  in  this  way  often  occupied  sev 
eral  months.  "When  a  considerable  number  were  thus 
got  together,  a  suitable  force  was  appointed  to  convoy 
them  to  the  East  or  "West  Indies,  or  to  whatever  part  of 
the  world  might  be  their  destination. 

If  the  fleet  was  large  and  valuable,  they  generally  sent 
a  line-of-battle  ship,  commanded  by  an  Admiral,  with 
one  or  two  frigates,  and  as  many  sloops-of-war  or  gun- 
brigs.  If  only  a  small  fleet  of  merchantmen,  then  a 
smaller  force  was  sent  for  its  protection,  say  a  frigate  and 
one  or  two  sloops-of-war. 

When  nearly  ready  for  sea,  a  signal  was  made  from 


110  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

the  Admiral  or  Flag-ship,  for  all  the  captains  of  mer 
chant-vessels  sailing  in  the  fleet  to  repair  on  board,  to 
receive  written  instructions  how  to  sail  under  his  con 
voy,  and  also  to  understand  the  necessary  signals. 
These  instructions  are  familiarly  called  ''sailing  orders." 

After  leaving  port  the  order  of  sailing  is  as  follows  : 
The  Admiral  or  flag-ship  takes  the  lead,  and  proceeds  a 
short  distance  ahead.  She  is  called  the  van-ship.  To 
bring  up  the  rear,  they  appoint  a  fast-sailing  frigate,  so 
that  if  necessary  she  rnay  be  able  to  tow  up  any  dull- 
sailing  ship,  to  prevent  her  being  left  astern  of  the  fleet. 
On  each  side,  or  what  a  soldier  would  call  "  the  flanks," 
is  placed  a  sloop-of-war  or  a  gun-brig. 

In  this  manner  they  sail  from  England,  and  return 
there  from  their  foreign  ports.  The  first  order  is  for  no 
ship  to  go  ahead  of  the  admiral,  and  to  watch  and  obey 
all  the  signals  made  by  the  flag-ship.  The  second  and 
never-failing  signal  is  constantly  repeated,  viz.,  for  the 
headmost  ships  to  shorten  sail  and  for  the  sternmost  to 
make  all  sail  and  keep  up  with  the  fleet.  Every  now 
and  then,  one  of  the  frigates  or  sloops-of-war  is  ordered 
to  tow  up  some  dull  sailer  ahead  of  the  squadron.  To 
do  this,  a  large  hawser  is  made  fast  to  the  fore-mast  of 
the  merchantman,  when  she  is  towed  quite  ahead  of  the 
fleet,  that  is  to  say  just  under  the  stern  of  the  Admiral. 

Towards  evening,  or  at  nightfall,  a  signal  is  given  to 
close  convoy,  and  sail  in  close  order,  or  in  other  words 
to  huddle  together  near  the  stern  of  the  leading  bully. 
This  manoeuvre  reminds  one  of  a  hen  gathering  her 
chickens  together  to  protect  them  from  a  ravenous  hawk. 

When  a  fleet  of  merchant  vessels  was  collecting  in  the 
windward  or  leeward  West  India  islands,  either  at  Tor- 
tola  or  Jamaica,  the  fact  was  generally  known  to  the 
American  privateers,  in  time  to  place  themselves  on  the 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  Ill 

qui-vive  to  catch  as  many  of  them  on  their  passage  home 
as  they  possibly  could. 

These  homeward-bound  ships  were  generally  laden 
with  sugar,  coffee,  and  other  valuable  goods,  and  were, 
of  course,  objects  of  great  temptation  to  their  adversa 
ries  ;  consequently  they  were  frequently  dogged  and 
watched  from  the  time  of  their  leaving  the  harbors  in  the 
"West  Indies,  until  their  arrival  at  their  own  ports  at 
home. 

Two  privateers  in  company  stood  a  much  better 
chance  of  success  than  one  alone;  for  while  a  man-of-war 
was  sent  in  pursuit  of  one  of  them,  the  other  was  ready 
to  pounce  upon  some  of  the  merchantmen. 

The  prize  crews  should  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warn 
ing  to  be  thrown  on  board  of  the  prizes,  and  after  ta 
king  possession  of  them  they  are  ordered  to  run  to  lee 
ward  of  the  fleet,  separate  and  steer  in  different  direc 
tions,  so  as  to  divide  the  attention  of  the  enemy  ;  for 
while  one  of  the  frigates  is  in  chase  of  the  privateer,  the 
enemy  must  retain  one  or  more  ships  to  protect  the  fleet ; 
so  that  the  prizes  have  time  to  make  their  escape. 

At  other  times  it  happens  that,  when  the  captured 
vessel  is  too  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy,  the  prize- 
crew  are  obliged  to  leave  in  their  boats,  and  return  in 
hot  haste  to  the  privateer. 

It  not  unfrequently  occurs  that  a  privateer  may  run 
into  the  midst  of  a  fleet,  and  have  only  time  to  capture 
one  vessel,  place  the  crew  into  their  own  boats,  apply 
the  torch,  and  leave  it  to  burn  in  defiance  of  their  adver 
saries. 

Then  again  it  may  happen  that,  after  chasing  a  fleet 
for  several  days,  and  even  for  weeks,  if  the  weather  is 
fine,  no  opportunity  will  offer  to  take  a  single  ship  ; 
but  should  thick  weather  or  a  strong  gale  of  wind  inter- 


112  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS-  [1813. 

vene  and  separate  them,  then  the  privateers  have  capital 
picking,  and  have  only  to  select  the  most  valuable  of  the 
ships,  for  they  are  in  truth  like  sheep  without  a  shep 
herd.  In  such  cases,  the  privateersmen  generally  seize 
upon  the  specie  and  the  most  valuable  goods  they  can 
find,  and  remove  them  to  the  privateer  for  fear  of  recap 
ture,  and  then^are  governed  by  circumstances  in  dispos 
ing  of  the  captured  vessels.  If  valuable,  and  they  can 
spare  men,  they  send  them  into  port;  if  not,  destroy  them; 
and  if  encumbered  with  too  many  prisoners,  they  fre 
quently  give  up  some  of  the  prizes  to  them,  and  allow 
them  to  return  home,  or  proceed  to  the  nearest  land. 

At  the  commencement  of  a  cruise,  before  one  gets 
hardened  to  the  business,  it  seems  harsh  and  cruel  thus 
to  distress  our  fellow-men  ;  but  such  is  war.  Whether 
by  sea  or  land,  its  features  are  certainly  rough  and  un- 
christian-like,  and  to  smother  rising  feelings  of  philan 
thropy,  one  is  obliged  to  call  to  remembrance  the  fact 
that  England  had  been  preying  upon  most  other  nations 
during  the  last  two  centuries  ;  and  towards  the  last  of 
this  war,  their  burning  Washington  was  a  sort  of  watch 
word  to  inspire  retaliation  and  revenge  for  past  inju 
ries. 

In  the  year  1810,  two  years  previous  to  this  war,  the 
writer  of  this  sketch  commanded  an  American  vessel, 
and  sailed  in  a  fleet  of  about  600  sail  of  merchantmen, 
professing  to  be  neutral  vessels,  bound  from  Gotten- 
burg  into  the  Baltic  Sea,  to  different  ports  in  Russia, 
Prussia,  and  Sweden. 

We  left  Gottenburg  on  the  24th  of  October,  passing 
through  the  Great  Belt,  and  did  not  get  into  the  Baltic 
until  the  1st  of  November.  We  were  convoyed  by  the 
St.  George,  a  line-of-battle-ship,  and  two  frigates.  The 
St.  George  led  the  van,  while  the  two  frigates  were 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  113 

placed  on  each  side.  There  were  also  several  sloops-of- 
war  in  the  rear,  all  to  protect  the  fleet  from  the  Danish 
gun-boats  that  constantly  threatened  us  on  all  sides. 

For  the  particulars  of  this  passage,  see  '  Coggeshall's 
Voyages,'  published  in  1852. 

Besides  the  merchant  vessels  that  sailed  to  and  from 
England  in  fleets  at  that  period,  under  convoy  of  British 
men-of-war,  there  was  a  class  of  private  armed  ships 
that  relied  on  their  own  strength  to  defend  themselves. 
These  were  called  running  ships,  and  were  insured  to 
prosecute  their  voyages  out  and  home  without  waiting 
for  convoy.  The  owners  of  this  class  of  vessels,  of 
course,  paid  a  higher  rate  of  premium  of  insurance 
against  capture  than  those  who  sailed  under  the  pro 
tection  of  ships-of-war.  It  therefore  followed  that 
many  of  our  largest  privateers  were  fitted  out  almost 
expressly  to  capture  this  class  of  ships  ;  and  it  was  with 
them  th'at  many  a  hard-fought  battle  occurred.  After 
the  first  year  of  the  war,  it  was  found,  with  few  excep 
tions,  that  small  pilot-boat-privateers  were  too  weak  to 
make  many  captures,  the  enemy's  vessels  being  too  well 
manned  and  equipped  to  be  Captured  by  these  small 
craft.  Still  there  were  a  few  of  them  that  continued  to 
make  short  cruises.  These  small  pilot-boat-privateers 
were  so  well  adapted  to  low  latitudes,  where  the  winds 
are  light,  and  the  weather  fine — as  is  almost  invariably 
the  case  along  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  among  the  West 
India  Islands — that  several  of  them,  like  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  a  few  others  of  like  character 
from  Baltimore,  continued  to  annoy  the  British  coasting 
trade  among  the  Islands,  and  occasionally  to  capture  a 
straggling  ship  in  the  Gulf  Stream  which  had  separated 
from  her  convoy  ;  and  thus  did  these  mischievous  little 
8 


114  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

vessels  continue  to  harass  and  vex  the  enemy,  until  the 
peace  was  ratified  by  both  nations. 

PRIZES   CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  privateer  Yankee  arrived  at  Newport,  R.L,  after 
a  cruise  of  about  150  days,  during  which  time  she  had 
scoured  the  whole  western  coast  of  Africa,  taken  eight 
prizes,  sixty-two  guns,  196  men,  496  muskets,  and  pro 
perty  worth  $296,000.  The  Yankee  had  on  board 
thirty-two  bales  of  fine  goods,  six  tons  of  ivory,  and 
$40,000  worth  of  gold  dust.  She  looked  in  at  every 
port,  river,  town,  factory,  harbor,  etc.,  on  the  coast  ; 
touched  at  several  Portuguese  Islands  for  water  and  sup 
plies.  The  following  is  a  list  of  her  prizes  : — 

Sloop  Mary  Ann,  Sutherland,  of  London,  coppered, 
four  guns,  eleven  men  ;  having  on  board  gold  dust, 
ivory,  and  camwood,  worth  $28,000  ;  took  out  the  cargo 
and  burnt  the  vessel. 

Schooner  Alder,  Crowley,  of  Liverpool,  coppered,  six 
guns,  nine-pounders,  twenty-one  men  ;  400  casks,  musk 
ets,  flints,  bar  lead,  iron,  dry-goods,  etc.  Vessel  and 
cargo  worth  $24,000.  Ordered  to  the  first  port  in  the 
United  States.  In  the  contest  an  explosion  occurred, 
which  blew  up  her  quarter-deck  and  killed  her  captain 
and  five  of  her  men. 

Brig  Fly,  Tydeman,  of  London,  six  guns,  fourteen 
men  ;  with  gold  dust,  ivory,  gunpowder,  iron,  dry- 
goods,  and  sundries  ;  ordered  to  the  first  port  in  the 
United  States.  Vessel  and  cargo  worth  $36,000  ;  taken 
under  Fort  Appolonia,  of  50  guns. 

Brig  Thames,  Toole,  of  Liverpool,  eight  guns,  fourteen 
men ;  with  ivory,  dry-goods,  and  camwood  ;  worth 
$40,000  ;  ordered  to  the  first  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Harriet  and  Matilda,  Inman,  of  Maryport,  from 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  115 

Cork  for  Pernambuco,  eight  guns,  fourteen  men  ; 
with  fine  cloths,  linens,  iron,  salt,  porter,  etc.  ;  worth 
$41,000. 

Brig  Shannon,  Kendall,  from  Maranham  for  Liver 
pool,  ten  guns,  fifteen  men  ;  worth  $50,000. 

Andalusia,  Kenall,  ten  guns,  100  men,  (eighty-one 
free  blacks)  ;  vessel  and  cargo  worth  $34,000  ;  arrived 
at  Savannah. 

Schooner  George,  cut  out  of  Tradestown  ;  cargo,  rice, 
part  taken  out,  and  vessel  given  up  to  the  prisoners  ; 
worth  $2,500. 

Three  vessels  captured  on  the  Spanish  Main  by  the 
Snap-Dragon,  of  Newbern,  N.  C.  ;  divested  of  their 
valuables,  and  burnt. 

Three  vessels  taken  by  the  same  ;  valuable  articles 
removed,  and  all  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners. 

Sloop  ;  a  fine  copper-bottomed  vessel  ;  taken 

by  the  Snap-Dragon,  and  fitted  out  as  a  tender  and 
store-ship. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  privateer  Divided  We 
Pall,  and  ransomed. 

One  vessel  taken  by  the  same  privateer,  and  sunk. 

Three  vessels  taken  by  the  Divided  We  Fall,  and 
given  up. 

The  above  prizes,  we  presume,  were  West  India  trad 
ing  vessels,  commonly  called  "  drogers."  What  may  be 
called  the  coasting  trade  of  the  West  Indies,  was  a  very 
valuable  branch  of  the  British  commerce,  and  appears 
to  have  been  severely  handled. 

PORT  OF  NEW  YORK,  April  2±th. — Arrived,  letter-of- 
marque  schooner  Ned,  Captain  Dawson,  of  Baltimore,  for 
ty-two  days  from  La  Teste  (through  Long  Island  Sound). 
In  lat.  44°  54'  N.  long.  15°  W,  fell  in  with  the  Eng 
lish  letter-of-marque  brig  Malvina,  of  Aberdeen,  mount- 


116  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [18]  3. 

ing  10  guns — six  and  nine  pounders — and  after  a  close 
action  of  fifty-two  minutes,  succeeded  in  capturing  her. 
The  captain  of  the  Malvina  was  killed.  The  Ned  had 
seven  men  badly  wounded.  The  Malvina  was  from  the 
Mediterranean  for  London,  laden  with  wine.  Put  Cap 
tain  Penderson,  as  prize-master,  and  a  crew  on  board  of 
her,  and  ordered  her  into  an  American  port. 

On  the  18th  inst.,  the  Ned  was  chased  off  the  Chesa 
peake  by  a  seventy-four  and  a  frigate  ;  on  the  19th 
was  chased  off  the  Delaware  ;  on  the  20th  was  chased 
off  Sandy  Hook ;  and  on  the  21st  got  in  at  the  east  end 
of  Long  Island,  through  four  or  five  ships-of-war.  She 
touched  at  New  London  for  a  Sound  pilot. 

Brig  Tartar,  with  160  hhds.  of  rum,  sent  into  George 
town,  S.  C.,  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  privateer.  The 
Tartar  being  chased  by  a  British  government  brig,  was 
wrecked  on  the  bar  ;  people  and  cargo  saved. 

Schooner  Fox,  a  British  tender  of  three  guns,  com 
manded  by  the  first  lieutenant  of  a  seventy-four,  cap 
tured  by  the  Hero,  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  fitted  out  for 
the  occasion,  and  manned  by  volunteers. 

Brig  London  Packet,  from  London  for  St.  Michael's, 
taken  by  the  Paul  Jones,  and  wrecked  on  Nantucket. 

Brig  Return,  of  London,  from  Cumana ;  sent  into 
Chatham  by  the  Paul  Jones.  •'*'$  ••• 

Schooner  Farmer,  of  Nassau,  N.  P.,  laden  with  cotton, 
captured  by  the  Sparrow,  of  Baltimore,  but  given  up. 

The  Captain  of  the  Farmer  speaks  in  the  handsomest 
terms  of  the  liberal  conduct  of  Captain  Burch,  of  the 
Sparrow.  The  most  trifling  article  was  not  permitted 
to  be  touched.  He  would  not  even  receive  some  poultry 
without  paying  for  it. 

Schooner  —   — ,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  Wasp,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  Crown,   a  British  privateer,    captured   off 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  117 

Waldoboro  by  a  sloop  fitted  out  at  that  place,  and  man 
ned  by  volunteers. 

Ship ,  sent  into  Brest  (France),  by  the  privateer 

True-blooded  Yankee,  said  to  be  worth  from  $400,000 
to  $500,000.  This  privateer  had  taken  five  other  valu 
able  prizes.  One  loaded  with  dry-goods  and  Irish  linens 
had  been  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  Charlotte,  -  — ,  with  a  cargo  of  dyewood,  etc., 
captured  off  the  English  Channel  by  the  Montgomery,  of 
Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Privater  schooner  Richard,  -  -  guns,  captured  by 
the  Holkar,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 

Privateer  sloop  Dorcas,  taken  by  the  same  ;  armament, 
etc.  destroyed,  and  given  up  to  exchange  the  pri 
soners. 

Brig  Edward,  eight  guns,  from  Brazil  for  London, 
laden  with  180  bales  of  cotton,  etc.  •  a  valuable  prize, 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Alexander,  of  that  port.  The 
Alexander  had  also  captured  a  brig  of  sixteen  guns,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  gunpowder,  etc. 

Schooner  -  — ,  taken  by  the  Alexander  ;  her  valuable 
articles  taken  on  board  the  privateer,  and  then  given  up 
to  the  prisoners. 

Brig  Mars,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  laden  with  rum  ; 
sent  into  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  by  the  Fox,  privateer. 

Ship  Nancy,  -  -  guns,  sent  into  Bristol,  R.  I.,  by  the 
Yorktown,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  Delight,  from  Bermuda  for  Halifax,  laden 
with  wine  and  silks  ;  sent  into  Machias  by  the  privateer- 
boat  Fame,  of  Salem. 

King's  packet  Mary  Ann,  twelve  guns,  from  Malta, 
having  touched  at  Gibraltar,  for  England,  captured  after 
an  obstinate  battle  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins,  of  New  York, 
and  sent  into  Boston.  $60,000  in  gold  and  bullion,  and 


118  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

the  mail,  were  among  the  spoils  of  the  conquerors.  The 
privateer  had  no  person  hurt.  One  man  was  killed  and 
several  wounded  on  board  the  packet. 

Ship  Dromo.  12  guns,  from  Liverpool  for  Halifax, 
with  a  cargo  invoiced  at  $70,000,  sterling,  sent  into 
Wiscasset  by  the  Thomas,  of  Portsmouth. 

Brig  -  — ,  sent  into  Boothbay  by  the  same,  with  a 
very  valuable  cargo.  It  is  said  these  two  vessels  pro 
duced  the  captors  more  than  $500,000. 

The  corvette  ship  Invincible  Napoleon,  16  guns,  sent 
into  Portland  by  the  Young  Teazer,  of  New  York. 

Packet  Ann,  of  10  guns,  a  valuable  prize,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Young  Teazer. 

Schooner  Greyhound,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  sent  into 
Portland  *by  the  same. 

Brig ,  sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Governor 

Plumer,  privateer  of  that  port. 

British  packet  Express,  captured  off  the  coast  of  Bra 
zil  by  the  Anaconda,  of  New  York,  divested  of  her 
specie,  $80,000,  and  given  up  to  discharge  the  pri 
soners. 

Brig  Mary,  8  guns,  laden  with  wine,  valuable,  sent 
into  New  Haven  by  the  Anaconda. 

Ship  William,  10  guns,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  dry- 
goods,  crates,  wine,  etc.,  from  Cork  for  Buenos  Ayres, 
captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that 
port. 

Brig  Harriet,  with  a  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  from 
Buenos  Ayres,  sent  into  New  Bedford  by  the  Anaconda, 
of  New  York. 

Schooner  Pearl,  from  Curacoa,  for  St.  Croix,  with  a 
cargo  of  corn  meal,  etc.,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the 
Liberty,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  -    — ,  a  British  privateer  of  -      -  guns,  captured 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  119 

by  the  Liberty,  and  divested  of  her  armament  and  valu 
able  articles,  and  then  given  up  for  want  of  room  for  the 
prisoners. 

Brig  -  — ,  captured  and  burnt  by  the  Governor 
Plumer,  privateer.  She  was  bound  from  Hull  to  Hal 
ifax. 

Brig  -  — ,  from  Lisbon  to  London,  with  a  cargo  of 
cotton,  taken  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Sabine, 
of  Baltimore,  on  her  way  to  France,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Kingston  Packet,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  rum, 
etc.,  brought  into  Ocracock,  North  Carolina,  by  the  Globe, 
of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Britannia,  from  St.  Johns  for  the  West  In 
dies,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Grand  Turk. 

Ship  Loyal  Sam,  10  guns,  from  Nassau,  N.  P.,  for 
England,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Siro, 
of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  from  France,  and  ordered 
to  a  southern  port.  The  Loyal  Sam  had  $23,500  in 
specie  on  board,  and  a  quantity  of  indigo  which  came 
safe  to  Portland,  where  the  Siro  arrived  soon  after. 

Ship  Venus,  14  guns,  from  Cadiz  for  Newfoundland, 
with  a  full  cargo  of  salt,  sent  into  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  by  the 
Globe. 

Brig  David,  from  Waterford  for  Halifax,  laden  with 
provisions,  sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Gov.  Plumer, 
privateer. 

Brig  Ajax,  2  guns,  captured  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins. 
The  prize  did  not  arrive,  but  a  handsome  quantity  of  dry 
goods  that  were  on  board  of  her  having  been  transferred 
to  the  privateer,  came  safe  to  New  York. 

Brig  Hartley,  2  guns,  from  Gibraltar  for  St.  Salvador, 
taken  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins  and  burnt. 

Transport  ship  from  Lisbon  for  England,  captured  by 
the  letter-of-marque  Bellona,  of  Philadelphia,  on  her 


120  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813 

passage  from  France.  The  prisoners  were  paroled  for 
exchange,  and  the  vessel  ransomed. 

Brig  Gen.  Prevost,  from  Halifax  for  Demarara,  cap 
tured  by  the  Holla,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  New  Or 
leans. 

Schooner  Brown,  of  London,  captured  by  the  letter- 
of-marque  Bellona,  of  Philadelphia,  and  ransomed. 

The  noted  schooner,  Liverpool  Packet,  of-  -guns, 
carried  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Thomas  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  South  America  for  London,  with  a 

valuable  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  sent  into  Provi 
dence  by  the  Yorktown,  of  N.  Y. 

Ship  Susan,  of  Liverpool,  from  Gibraltar  for  that  port, 
captured  by  an  American  letter-of-marque,  and  carried 
into  Marennes,  France. 

Ship  Seaton,  captured  by  the  Paul  Jones,  and  after 
ward  burnt  by  the  Globe,  at  the  request  of  the  Prize- 
Master,  she  not  being  seaworthy. 

Schooner  Elizabeth,  from  Lisbon  for  London,  captured 
by  the  Globe,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Pelham,  from  Lisbon  for  Figaro,  laden  with  rum, 
captured  by  the  Globe,  and  burnt.  The  Globe  captured 
and  ordered  into  port  several  valuable  vessels. 

Brig  Margaret,  220  tons,  10  guns,  laden  with  1000 
hhds.  of  salt,  from  Cadiz  for  Newfoundland,  captured  ])y 
the  America,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Brig  Morton,  12  guns,  from  London  for  Madeira,  cap 
tured  by  the  Yorktown,  divested  of  her  dry-goods,  worth 
£7,000,  sterling,  and  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Three  schooners  captured  by  the  Young  Teazer,  and 
sent  into  Portland,  one  laden  with  salt,  the  other  two 
with  146  puncheons  of  Jamaica  rum,  and  some  ma 
hogany. 

Brig  Sally,   Budford,  of  London,   from    Plymouth  to 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS-  121 

Pictou,  in  ballast,   with  some  cordage  and  crockery — 
mounting  4  four-pounders — by  the  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Brig ,  from  Jamaica,  sent  into  New  York  ;  prize 

to  the  Teazer. 

Brig  Hero,  from  St.  Andrews,  sent  into  Castine  by 
the  Teazer. 

Brig  Resolution,  with  flour,  arrived  at  Portland,  prize 
to  the  Nancy,  Captain  Smart. 

Brig  -  — ,  from  Jamaica  for  Madeira,  laden  with 
wine,  arrived  at  New  London,  a  prize  to  the  Marengo. 

Brig  -  — ,  from  the  Leeward  Islands  to  Guernsey, 
mounting  six  guns,  with  a  full  cargo  of  West  India  pro 
duce,  arrived  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  a  prize  to  the  Gen. 
Armstrong. 

Brig  -  — ,  with  salt,  cut  out  of  Turk's  Island,  by  the 
Orders  in  Council,  arrived  at  New  York. 

Brig  -  — ,  a  new,  light  vessel,  from  Gibraltar  to  Hali 
fax,  a  prize  to  the  John,  arrived  at  Boston. 

Brig  Ann,  prize  to  the  Teazer,  arrived  at  an  Eastern 
port. 

Brig  Thomas,  from  Aberdeen  for  the  River  St.  Law 
rence,  mounting  two  guns,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 
Decatur,  and  sent  as  a  cartel  to  Halifax. 

Brig  Tulip,  British  property  under  American  colors, 
sent  into  Philadelphia  by  the  Atlas,  Captain  Maffet. 

Brig  -  — ,14  guns,  arrived  at  New  York,  sent  in  by 
the  Holkar. 

Bark  -  — ,  captured  and  burnt  by  the  Dolphin, 
Captain  Endicott,  on  her  second  cruise. 

Ship  Eliza  Ann,  from  Liverpool,  arrived  at  Boston, 
prize  to  the  Yankee. 

Schooner  Success,  from  Newfoundland  for  New  Bruns 
wick,  250  barrels  of  salmon,  prize  to  the  Benjamin 
Franklin. 


122  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

Schooner  Lady  Clark,  arrived  at  New  York,  August 
31st,  prize  to  the  Bunker  Hill. 

Schooner  Sally,  from  Sidney,  N.  S.,  arrived  at 
Boston,  a  prize  to  the  Wiley  Reynard. 

Schooner  Blonde,  from  Dominieo  for  St.  Johns,  N.  F., 
prize  to  the  John. 

Schooner  -  — ,  from  Jamaica,  with  160  puncheons  of 
rum,  arrived  at  Salem,  prize  to  the  John. 

Armed  schooner  Dorcas,  taken  by  the  Liberty,  of  Bal 
timore,  divested  of  her  dry-goods,  etc.,  and  released. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  NEW  YORK  PAPER  JULY  CTH,  1813. 
"  A  COUP  DE  MAIN/' 

"Yesterday  forenoon  a  fishing-smack  was  sent  out 
from  Mosquito  Cove  by  Commodore  Lewis,  who  has  the 
command  of  a  flotilla  of  gun-boats,  stationed  off  the 
Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  by  stratagem  the  sloop 
Eagle,  tender  to  the  British  74  Poictiers,  cruising  on 
and  off  Sandy  Hook  light-house,  which  succeeded  to  a 
charm. 

"The  smack,  named  the  'Yankee,'  was  borrowed  of 
some  fishermen  at  Fly  market,  and  a  calf,  a  sheep,  and 
a  goose,  purchased,  and  secured  on  deck.  Between 
thirty  and  forty  men  well  armed  with  muskets,  were 
secreted  in  the  cabin  and  fore-peak  of  the  smack.  Thus 
prepared,  she  stood  out  to  sea,  as  if  going  on  a  fishing- 
trip  to  the  Banks — three  men  only  being  on  deck, 
dressed  in  fisherman's  apparel,  with  buff  caps  on.  The 
Eagle,  on  perceiving  the  smack,  immediately  gave  chase, 
and  after  coming  up  with  her,  and  finding  she  had  live 
stock  on  deck,  ordered  her  to  go  down  to  the  Commo 
dore,  then  about  five  miles  distant.  The  watch-word 
1  Lawrence/  was  then  given,  when  the  armed  men  rushed 
on  deck  from  their  hiding  places,  and  poured  into  her 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  123 

a  volley  of  musketry,  which  struck  her  crew  with  dis 
may,  and  drove  them  all  down  so  precipitately  into  the 
hold  of  their  vessel,  that  they  had  not  time  to  strike 
their  colors.  Seeing  the  deck  was  cleared  of  the  enemy, 
sailing-master  Percival,  who  commanded  the  expedition, 
ordered  his  men  to  cease  firing — upon  which  one  of 
the  enemy  came  out  of  the  hold,  and  struck  the  colors 
of  the  Eagle.  She  had  on  board  a  thirty-two-pound 
brass  howitzer,  loaded  with  canister  shot ;  but  so  sud 
den  was  the  surprise,  they  had  not  time  to  discharge  it. 
The  crew  of  the  Eagle  consisted  of  H.  Morris,  master's- 
mate  of  the  Poictiers,  W.  Price  midshipman,  and  eleven 
marines.  Mr.  Morris  and  one  marine  were  killed  ;  Mr. 
Price  mortally,  and  one  marine  severely  wounded. 

"  The  Eagle,  with  the  prisoners,  was  brought  up  to 
town  yesterday  afternoon,  and  landed  at  Whitehall, 
amidst  the  shouts  and  plaudits  of  thousands  of  specta 
tors  assembled  on  the  Battery,  celebrating  the  Fourth 
of  July.7' 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

• 

Brig  Union,  from  Ireland,  laden  with  provisions, 
sent  into  Abrevrehe,  (France),  by  the  True  Blooded 
Yankee. 

Ship  Aurora,  from  Belfast  for  London,  sent  into  Ros- 
coff,  (France),  by  the  same. 

Ship  -  — }  of  20  guns,  chased  on  shore,  on  the  coast 
of  Africa,  by  the  Rambler,  of  Bristol. 

Ship  Integrity,  from  Waterford  to  Lisbon,  captured 
between  AYaterford  and  Cork,  by  the  True-Blooded 
Yankee,  and  carried  into  Norway. 

Brig    Avery,   from  Magadore,    12    guns,   laden  with 


124  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

gums,  almonds,  beeswax,  etc.,  sent  into  New  Bedford 
by  the  Yorktown,  valued  at  $200,000. 

Schooner  Leonard,  taken  and  sunk  in  Dublin  Bay,  by 
the  True  Blooded  Yankee. 

Brig  Betsey,  with  a  full  cargo  of  wine,  raisins,  etc., 
from  Malaga  for  St.  Petersburg,  sent  into  Plymouth  by 
the  Jack's  Favorite,  valued  at  $75,000. 

Schooner  Three  Sisters,  of  Bermuda,  with  a  cargo  of 
flour,  etc.,  sent  into  St.  Mary's  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  of 
Charleston. 

Schooner  Gen.  Horseford,  of  210  tons,  with  a  valuable 
assorted  cargo,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Decatur. 

Brig  Nelly,  from  Cork  for  Newfoundland,  captured 
by  the  Fox  of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt  after  dispossessing 
her  of  her  valuable  articles. 

Sloop  Peggy,  from  Greenock  for  Limerick,  captured 
by  the  same  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Brother  and  Sister,  from  Liverpool  for 
Westport,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Louisa,  captured  by  the  Fox,  and  ransomed. 

Sloop  Fox,  from  Liverpool  for  Limerick,  valuable, 
captured  by  the  privateer  Fox,  and  sent  to  Norway. 

Sloop  William  and  Ann,  from  Newcastle  for  Gallo 
way,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  France. 

Sloop  James  and  Elizabeth,  captured  by  the  same  and 
ransomed. 

Brig  Chance,  from  Liverpool  for  Newfoundland,  cap 
tured  by  the  Fox  and  sent  to  Norway. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Cork  for  Pictou,  captured  by  the 
same  privateer  and  burnt. 

Ship  Venus,  an  American  vessel,  sent  into  Salem  by 
the  Dolphin  privateer,  enemy's  property,  condemned  to 
the  amount  of  $60,000. 


1813.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  125 

TERRIFIC    EXPLOSION. 

In  June,  1813,  the  privateer  Young  Teazer, : belong 
ing  to  New  York,  was  destroyed  by  a  desperado  by  the 
name  of  Johnson, 

This  man  had  formerly  commanded  the  Old  Teazer. 
When  that  vessel  was  captured  by  Admiral  Warren's 
fleet,  Johnson  was  released  on  his  parole.  Not  long  after 
he  had  obtained  his  liberty,  without  waiting  to  be  regu 
larly  exchanged,  he  entered  as  first  lieutenant  on  board 
of  the  Young  Teazer. 

By  letters  from  several  of  the  crew  (prisoners  in  Hali 
fax)  to  the  agents  of  the  privateer,  we  learn  the  follow 
ing  particulars  of  the  sad  catastrophe  : 

While  the  Teazer  was  closely  pursued  by  an  English 
man-of-war,  and  in  great  danger  of  being  taken,  Capt. 
Dawson  (who  commanded  the  privateer),  called  his  offi 
cers  aft  to  consult  on  what  had  better  be  done.  While 
they  were  deliberating  on  the  subject,  one  of  the  sailors 
called  aloud  to  the  Captain,  that  Lieutenant  Johnson  had 
just  gone  into  the  cabin,  with  a  live  brand  of  fire  in  his 
hand.  In  another  instant,  the  Young  Teazer  was  blown 
up.  All  the  crew  perished  with  her,  except  seven  sea 
men  who  were  standing  on  the  forecastle,  one  of  whom 
died  soon  after. 

Had  Johnson  blown  his  own  brains  out,  or  tied  a  gun 
about  his  neck,  and  thrown  himself  overboard,  some 
would  have  mourned  for  him,  and  none  found  fault.  By 
all  accounts  he  was  not  one  of  the  most  amiable  men  liv 
ing  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  desperate  wretch  must  have 
been  possessed  of  the  devil,  to  have  plunged  so  many 
human  beings  into  eternity  without  a  moment's  warning. 
Many  of  them,  it  is  said,  had  wives  and  children  to 
mourn  their  untimely  fate. 


126  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

July  31^. — The  privateer  sloop  Wasp,  Capt.  Ervin,  of 
Salem,  carrying  2  guns,  with  small  arms,  etc.,  fought 
the  British  Government  schooner  Bream,  of  10  guns, 
upwards  of  nine  hours,  viz.r  a  running  fight  for  8  hours, 
and  at  close  quarters  for  about  45  minutes,  and  was  af 
terwards  taken.  The  Lieutenant  commanding  the  Brit 
ish  schooner  being  a  gentleman,  treated  Capt.  Ervin  and 
his  crew  with  great  kindness,  for  their  bravery  in  de 
fending  their  little  vessel  so  resolutely. 


REMARK. 

The  conduct  of  the  British  officer  towards  his  prison 
ers  in  this  little  action,  is  an  infallible  sign  of  a  brave, 
kind-hearted  man. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and 
given  up  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners,  she  being  incom 
moded  by  too  great  a  number. 

Schooner ,  from  the  Falkland  Islands  for  Lis 
bon,  captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  her  cargo 
of  skins  taken  on  board  the  privateer. 

Brig ,  heavily  laden,  sent  into  Bristol,  R.  I.,  by 

the  Yankee,  of  that  port. 

Ship  London  Trader,  2  guns,  from  Surinam  for  Lon 
don,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Decatur,  laden  with  209 
hhds.  of  sugar,  140  tierces  of  molasses,  55  hhds.  of  rum, 
700  bags  of  coffee,  50  or  60  bales  of  cotton,  and  some 
other  articles. 

Brigs  Good  Intent,  Yenus,  Happy,  bark  Reprisal, 
and  schooner  Elizabeth,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon,  of 
North  Carolina,  and  destroyed  or  given  up. 


1813.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  127 

The  privateer,  when  last  seen,  had  in  company  the 
brig  Ann,  from  England  for  Nova  Scotia,  with  a  full  car 
go  of  cloths,  cassimeres,  etc.,  valued  at  $500,000. 


THE  YANKEE'S  CRUISE. 

May  20th. — Left  Newport.  2 3d.-— Recaptured  brig 
William. 

June  22d. — Close  in  with  Ireland,  took  the  cutter-sloop 
Earl  Camden,  valued  at  $10,000;  ordered  for  France. 

June  30th. — Took  brig  Elizabeth,  2  guns,  laden  with 
cotton,  valued  at  $40,000  ;  ordered  for  France.  Same 
day,  took  brig  Watson,  laden  with  cotton,  valued  at 
$70,000;  ordered  her  for  France. 

July  2d. — Ireland  in  sight,  took  brig  Mariner,  laden 
with  rum,  sugar,  etc.,  valued  at  $70,000;  ordered  her 
for  France. — Arrived  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  Aug.  19th. 

The  Yankee  had  not  a  man  killed  or  wounded  during 
her  cruise. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Bark  Henrietta,  sent  into  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  by  the 
Snap-Dragon,  of  Newbern. 

Brig  Ann  -  — ,  with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  worth 
$500,000,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon,  and  the  most 
valuable  part  of  the  cargo  taken  on  board  the  privateer, 
which  vessel  safely  arrived  at  Newport. 

The  Saucy  Jack  arrived  at  St.  Mary's  from  her  third 
cruise.  She  captured  the  schooner  Two  Sisters,  laden  with 
(lour  and  fish  ;  ship  Eliza,  of  10  guns,  with  flour,  beef,  etc. 
On  the  17th  July,  fell  in  with  the  ship  Louisa,  and  brig 
Three  Brothers,  of  10  guns  each,  and  captured  them 
both  without  loss.  The  Saucy  Jack  also  took  and  gave 
up  some  small  vessels.  She  was  the  cause  of  the  loss  of 


128  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1811 

the  enemy's  sloop-of-war  Persian,  which  was  wrecked 
on  the  Silver  Keys,  June  29th,  while  in  chase  of  this 
famous  little  privateer. 


BRAVE  DEFENCE  OF  THE    LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  LOTTERY, 
IN  THE  CHESAPEAKE  BAY. 

The  letter- of-marque  schooner  Lottery,  of  Baltimore, 
with  6  guns  and  35  men,  on  the  15th  of  February,  1813, 
while  at  anchor  in  Chesapeake  Bay  (being  outward 
bound),  was  captured  by  nine  British  barges,  containing 
240  men  ;  after  fighting  them  off  for  an  hour  and  a  half, 
it  was  supposed  that  more  Englishmen  were  killed  and 
wounded  than  the  whole  crew  of  the  letter-of-marque. 
Captain  Southcomb  of  the  Lottery,  being  badly  wounded, 
the  enemy  boarded  the  schooner,  and  pulled  down  the 
colors  themselves. 


INTERESTING  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN,  CAPT. 
W.  S.  STAFFORD,  AND  THE  ENGLISH  SHIP  HEBE,  AND  WITH  HER 
CONSORT  THE BRIG,  FROM  MALTA,  OFF  CAPE  ST.  VINCENT. 

Captain  Stafford  had  been  for  some  days  cruising  off 
the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  when  off  Cape  St. 
Vincent,  on  the  25th  of  January,  1813,  he  fell  in  with 
a  large  ship  and  a  brig,  and  gallantly  engaged  them  both. 
The  combat  was  sustained  with  considerable  spirit  until 
the  captain  of  the  Hebe  and  eight  men  being  wounded, 
they  both  struck  their  colors,  and  were  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

The  privateer  lost  but  four  men  in  this  gallant  affair. 
The  force  of  the  Dolphin  was  ten  guns  and  sixty 
men. 

The  Hebe  carried  16  guns  and  forty  men,  the  brig  10 
guns  and  25  men  ;  making  together  twenty-six  guns 


fltt 


CO     00 


y 


*i 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  129 

and  sixty-five  men.     They  were  both  richly  laden,  and 
were  very  valuable  prizes. 

The  Dolphin  then  proceeded  homeward.  She  passed 
through  the  British  squadron  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay, 
and  arrived  safe  at  Baltimore,  on  the  15th  of  February, 
after  a  very  fortunate  cruise.  The  captain  of  the  British 
ship,  smarting  from  his  wounds,  said  "  he  did  not  expect 
to  find  a  d—  — d  Yankee  privateer  in  that  part  of  the 
world,"  but  was  given  to  understand  that,  by-and-by, 
captures  might  be  made  in  the  Thames  ;  at  which  he 
wondered  greatly ! 

The  following  is  honorable  to  all  parties  concerned  in 
it — we  should  be  glad  to  see  such  things  from  the  other 
side  of  the  water. 

A  CARD. 

"  W.  A.  Brigham,  lately  captured  in  the  British  mer 
chant  ship  Hebe,  late  under  his  command,  by  the  United 
States  privateer  Dolphin,  Captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  after 
a  severe  contest,  begs  to  make  public,  and  gratefully  ac 
knowledge  the  sense  he  has  of  the  very  kind  and  hu 
mane  treatment  he  and  his  crew  experienced  on  board 
the  Dolphin,  during  a  passage  of  five  weeks,  from  the 
time  of  capture  till  our  arrival  at  this  port.  All  wear 
ing  apparel  and  private  property  were  given  up  to 
the  prisoners,  and  the  wounded  (eight  in  number),  most 
diligently  and  tenderly  attended.  W.  A.  Brigham  being 
badly  wounded  by  a  musket-shot,  and  much  burnt,  ex 
perienced  a  very  great  share  of  this  attention  from  Dr. 
Chidester,  the  surgeon,  which,  together  with  the  tender 
sympathy  and  goodness  of  Captain  Stafford,  added  much 
to  his  recovery  and  happiness.  Should  the  fortune  of 
war  ever  throw  Captain  Stafford,  or  any  of  his  crew  into 
the  hands  of  the  British,  it  is  sincerely  hoped  he  will 
meet  a  similar  treatment.77 

Baltimore,  Feb.  16/7*.  1813. 

9 


130  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  was  personally  acquaint 
ed  with  Captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  when  at  Bordeaux, 
in  the  year  1814.  And  it  is  with  pleasure,  he  adds, 
that  he  always  found  him  a  modest,  unassuming,  gen 
tlemanly  man;  no  one  can,  for  a  moment,  doubt  his 
unflinching  bravery  and  gallant  bearing,  when  he  re 
flects  on  the  many  battles  he  has  gained  over  the 
enemies  of  his  country.  To  be  convinced  that  Captain 
Stafford  was  generous,  kind,  and  humane,  the  reader 
has  only  to  refer  to  the  fact  of  Captain  W.  A.  Brigham's 
voluntary  certificate,  after  his  capture,  and  during  the 
time  he  was  a  prisoner  on  board  the  Dolphin. 

When  the  writer  of  the  following  article  calls  to  mind 
the  spirit  and  acts  of  the  Baltimoreans  during  our  last 
war  with  England,  he  is  inspired  with  a  feeling  of  esteem 
and  veneration  for  them,  as  a  brave  and  patriotic  people, 
that  will  endure  with  him  to  the  end  of  his  existence. 

During  the  whole  struggle  against  an  inveterate  foe, 
they  did  all  tin.  y  could  to  aid  and  strengthen  the  hands 
of  the  general  government,  and  generally  took  the  lead 
in  fitting  out  efficient  privateers  and  letters-of-marque 
to  annoy  and  distress  the  enemy,  and  even  to  "  beard 
the  old  lion  in  his  den,"  for  it  is  well  known  that  their 
privateers  captured  many  English  vessels  at  the  very 
mouths  of  their  own  ports  in  the  British  channel. 

When  their  own  beautiful  city  was  attacked  by  a 
powerful  fleet  and  army,  how  nobly  did  they  defend 
themselves  against  the  hand  of  the  spoiler  !  The  whole 
venom  of  the  modern  Goths  seemed  concentrated  against 
the  Baltimore.ans,  for  no  other  reason  but  that  they  had 
too  much  spirit  to  submit  to  insult  and  tyrannical  op 
pression.  Many  of  the  eastern  people  made  a  grand 
mistake  in  counting  on  the  magnanimity  of  the  British 
nation  to  do  them  justice  by  mild  and  persuasive  argn- 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  131 

ments.  In  making  these  remarks  in  praise  of  Baltimore, 
I  do  not  mean  to  disparage  the  noble  patriotism  of  many 
other  cities  of  our  glorious  Union,  but  I  do  mean  to  say, 
that  if  the  same  spirit  that  fired  the  hearts  and  souls  of 
the  Baltimoreans,  had  evinced  itself  throughout  our  en 
tire  country,  it  would  have,  saved  every  American  heart 
much  pain  and  mortification,  and  would,  in  my  opinion, 
have  shortened  the  war.  For  while  the  English  believed 
we  were  a  divided  people,  they  were  slow  to  relinquish 
their  unreasonable  demands.  With  these  obvious  rea 
sons,  can  any  one  possessed  of  the  least  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  believe  there  can  ever  be  any  real  friend 
ship  between  an  English  Aristocrat,  a  High- Church 
Tory,  and  an  American  Republican  ;  the  very  idea  of 
such  a  friendship  is  preposterous  to  the  last  degree.  It 
therefore  follows,  that  we  have  only  to  rely  upon  our 
own  strength  and  union,  to  repel  aggression  from 
whatever  quarter  it  may  come.  Would  the  English,  if 
they  had  succeeded  in  taking  Baltimore,  have  shown 
more  mercy  in  sparing  it  than  they  did  Washington?  I 
have  no  patience  with  such  fallacious  reasoning.  Are 
they  not  the  same  people,  and  playing  the  same  game 
now,  on  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  and  in  the  White  arid 
Black  Seas? 

Should  we  have  another  war  with  them,  would  they 
not  perform  the  same  unnatural  acts  as  were  perpetrated 
at  Hampton,  in  1813,  if  they  had  the  power  to  do  it? 
Talk  not  of  British  magnanimity  to  any  one  acquainted 
with  their  history  ;  were  it  not  for  the  religion  and  vir 
tue  of  the  middle  classes  in  England,  "the  hands  of 
the  aristocracy  would  be  against  every  man,  and  every 
man's  hand  against  them."  The  writer  was  in  Balti 
more  shortly  after  the  English  retreated  from  that  place, 
and  when  he  saw  the  American  flag,  with  its  beautiful 


132  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813 

stars  and  stripes,  wave  gracefully  in  the  breeze  on  Fort 
McHenry,  the  impression  made  upon  his  mind  was  in 
delible.  He  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  feeling,  it 
being  much  better  expressed  in  Key's  immortal  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner." 

INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  IN  THE 
PRIVATEER-SCHOONER  COMET,  ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL,  AND 
AMONG:  THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS. 

Captain  Boyle  left  Baltimore  in  Dec.  1812,  and  on  a 
dark,  stormy  night  passed  through  the  midst  of  the  Brit 
ish  blockading  squadron,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ches 
apeake.  After  getting  to  sea,  Capt.  Boyle  proceeded  to 
the  coast  of  Brazil,  without  meeting  with  any  remark 
able  incident  until  he  arrived  off  Pernambuco,  on  the 
9th  of  January,  1813.  At  this  point  his  Journal  pro 
ceeds  as  follows  :  "On  this  day  I  spoke  a  coaster  from 
Pernambuco,  who  informed  me  of  some  English  vessels 
who  were  to  sail  in  a  few  days  from  that  place.  On  the 
llth,  spoke  the  Portuguese  brig  Wasa,  from  St.  Michael's 
for  Pernambuco.  \^4th,  at  1  P.  M.,  discovered  four  sail 
standing  out  of  the  harbor — laid-by  to  give  them  an  op 
portunity  to  get  offshore,  and  then  to  cut  them  off;  at 
3  P.  M.,  they  were  upon  the  wind,  standing  S.E.,  and 
about  six  leagues  from  the  land ;  bore  up  and  made  all 
sail  in  chase  ;  at  5,  we  were  coming  up  with  them  very 
fast ;  at  6,  discovered  one  of  them  to  be  a  very  large  man- 
of-war  brig  ;  called  all  hands  to  quarters  ;  loaded  all  the 
guns  with  round  and  grape ;  cleared  the  decks,  and  got 
all  ready  for  action.  At.  7  P.  M.,  close  to  the  chase, 
hoisted  our  colors,  and  sheered  close  up  to  the  man-of- 
war  brig,  who  had  also  hoisted  her  colors.  The  captain 
hailed  us,  and  said  he  would  send  his  boat  on  board ;  ac 
cordingly  I  hove  to  and  received  it.  The  officer  informed 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  1.33 


me  that  the  brig  was  a  Portuguese  national  vessel, 
mounting  20  32's,  and  165  men;  that  the  three  others 
were  English,  for  Europe,  under  his  protection,  and  that 
I  must  not  molest  them.  I  informed  him  that  I  was  an 
American  cruiser,  and  insisted  on  his  seeing  my  author 
ity  to  capture  English  vessels,  which  he  did.  I  then  in 
formed  him  I  would  capture  those  vessels  if  I  could;  that 
we  were  upon  the  high  seas,  the  common  highway  of  all 
nations  ;  that  he  had  no  right  to  protect  them.  That  the 
high  seas,  of  right,  belonged  to  America  as  much  as  any 
other  power  in  the  world  ;  and,  that  at  all  events  (under 
those  considerations),  I  was  determined  to  exercise  the 
authority  I  possessed.  He  said  he  should  be  sorry  if 
anything  disagreeable  took  place  ;  that  he  was  ordered 
to  protect  them,  and  should  do  so.  I  answered  him,  that 
I  should  feel  equal  regret  that  anything  disagreeable 
should  occur  ;  that  if  it  did,  he  would  be  the  aggressor, 
as  I  did  not  intend  to  fire  on  him  first.  That  if  he  did 
attempt  to  oppose  me,  or  fire  on  me  when  trying  to  take 
these  English  vessels,  we  must  try  our  respective  strength, 
as  I  was  well  prepared  for  such  an  event,  and  should  not 
shrink  from  it.  He  then  informed  me  those  vessels 
were  well  armed,  and  very  strong.  I  told  him  I  valued 
their  strength  but  little,  and  should  very  soon  put  it  to 
the  test.  He  then  left  me  to  go  on  board  the  man-of- 
war  brig,  to  communicate  our  conversation  to  his  cap 
tain,  with  a  promise  of  again  returning,  which,  however, 
he  did  not  do.  Finding  he  did  not  mean  to  return,  I 
spoke  the  man-of-war  immediately,  and  asked  him  if  he 
intended  sending  his  boat  back  ;  he  said  he  would  speak 
to  his  convoy,  and  requested  me  to  send  my  boat  on 
board.  Entertaining  some  suspicion  of  his  motives  for 
thus  asking  for  my  boat,  I  told  him  that  I  did  not  make 
a  practice  of  sending  my  boat  from  my  vessel  in  the  night, 


134.  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

and  should  not  now  do  it.  I  then  again  told  him  of  my 
determination  very  distinctly,  so  that  he  should  not  mis 
understand  me.  The  English  vessels  were  ahead  of  us, 
consisting  of  a  ship  of  14  guns,  and  two  brigs  of  10  guns 
each,  making  in  all  a  force  of  54  guns!  I  made  sail  im 
mediately  for  them,  came  up  with  the  ship  (the  three, 
in  fact,  were  close  together),  hailed  her,  and  ordered  them 
to  back  the  main  top-sail ;  he  gave  little  or  no  answer. 
Having  quick  way  at  the  time,  I  shot  ahead,  but  told  him 
I  should  be  alongside  again  in  a  few  minutes  ;  and  if  he 
did  not  obey  my  orders,  I  would  pour  a  broadside  into 
him.  After  a  few  minutes  I  tacked,  the  man-of-war 
close  after  me  ;  this  was  about  half  past  8,  P.  M.  I  then 
ran  alongside  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being  close  to 
her,  and  opened  my  broadside  upon  them  both  ;  we  were 
all  carrying  a  crowd  of  canvas,  and  I  was,  from  superior 
sailing,  frequently  obliged  to  tack,  and  should  have  pro 
fited  much  by  it,  had  not  the  man-of-war  been  so  close, 
who  now  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us,  with  round  and 
grape,  which  we  returned.  Having  now  the  whole  force 
to  contend  with,  I  stuck  as  close  as  possible  to  the  Eng 
lish  vessels,  they  frequently  separating  to  give  the  man- 
of-war  a  chance,  and  I,  as  frequently,  poured  whole 

roadsides  into  them,  and  at  times,  into  the  man-of-war. 

bout  1,  p.  M.,  the  ship » surrendered,  being  all  cut  to 
pieces,  and  rendered  unmanageable.  Directly  after,  the 
Jbrig  Bowes  pwrrendered,  she  being  very  much  disabled. 
I  then  proceeded  to  take  possession  of  her,  and,  as  the 
boat  was  passing,  the  man-of-war  gave  us  a  broadside, 
and  was  near  sinking  the  boat,  which  was  obliged  to  re 
turn.  I  then  renewed  the  action  with  the  man-of-war, 
who  sheered  off  at  some  distance  ;  I  followed  a  little,  and 
then  made  the  third  vessel  suSender,  she  being  also  cut 
to  pieces.  T  was  now  proceeding  to  take  possession  of 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  135 

the  Bowes  again,  when  I  spoke  the  ship,  the  captain  of 
which  I  ordered  to  follow  me,  who  informed  me  his  ship 
was  in  a  sinking  condition,  having  many  shot-holes  be 
tween  wind  and  water,  and  not  a  rope  but  what  was  cut 
away  ;  but  for  his  own  safety,  he  would,  if  possible,  fol 
low  my  orders.  At  half  past  1,  p.  M.,  took  possession  of 
the  Bowes,  and  manned  her.  The  man-of-war  brig, 
however,  continued  to  interfere  with  my  taking  posses 
sion  of  the  three  English  prizes,  so  that  I  was  occasionally 
obliged  to  exchange  broadsides  with  him.  After  this,  the 
man-of-war  fired  a  broadside  into  the  prize,  and  pass 
ed  her.  The  moon  was  now  down,  and  it  became  quite 
dark  arid  squally,  which  caused  us  to  separate  from  our 
prizes.  At  2  A.  M.,  he  stood  to  the  south;  it  being  quite 
dark,  we  were  out  of  sight  of  the  brig  and  ship,  which 
were  in  a  southern  direction.  I  now  thought  it  prudent 
to  take  care  of  the  prize  till  daylight,  the  Captain  of 
which  informed  me  that  the  ship  and  the  other  brig  were 
loaded  with  wheat.  At  daylight,  we  wore  close  to  the 
prize,  the  man-of-war  standing  for  us.  I  immediately 
hove  about,  and  stood  for  him,  or  rather  for  the  ship  and 
brig  ;  he  tacked  likewise,  and  made  signals  for  the  con 
voy  to  make  the  first  port.  Considering  the  situation  of 
the  ship  and  brig,  I  determined  not  to  take  possession 
of  them,  but  to  watch  their  manoeuvres.  They  both 
bore  up  before  the  wind,  for  the  land,  in  company  with 
the  man-of-war,  wKich  appeared  also  much  damaged.  I 
followed  for  some  time,  taking  particular  notice  of  them. 
It  appeared  to  me  that  great  exertions  were  made  to 
keep  the  ship  from  sinking,  which,  with  the  brig,  settled 
in  the  water. 

The  man-of-war  appeared  occasionally  to  render  them 
assistance  ;  the  ship  was  called  the  George,  of  Liverpool, 
Captain  Wilson,  and  the  brig  the  Gambia,  of  Hull,  Cap- 


136  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

tair  Smith,  At  10  A.M.,  went  in  pursuit  of  the  Bowes, 
and  at  meridian  spoke  her.  I  have  since  learned  from 
several  vessels  which  I  boarded  from  Pernambuco,  that 
the  man-of-war  brig*  was  damaged  very  much,  besides 
having  her  first  Lieutenant  and  five  men  killed,  and  a 
number  wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  the  Captain, 
who  had  his  thigh  shot  off,  and  has  since  died  of  his 
wounds.  The  ship's  masts  scarcely  lasted  to  carry  her 
to  Pernambuco  ;  her  cargo  was  nearly  all  damaged  •  she 
was  dismantled,  and  obliged  to  get  new  top-sides.  The 
brig  was  nearly  in  the  same  situation,  the  greater  part 
of  her  cargo  being  damaged,  arid  it  was  with  difficulty 
they  kept  her  from  sinking,  before  they  reached  Per 
nambuco  harbor. 

Soon  after  the  fight  and  capture  of  the  three  British 
vessels,  the  gallant  Boyle  fell  in  with,  and  took  the 
Scotch  ship  Adelphi,  belonging  to  Aberdeen.  She  was 
from  Liverpool  bound  for  Bahia,  of  361  tons,  mounting 
8  long  twelve-pounders,  laden  with  salt  and  dry-goods; 
manned  her,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  the  United  States. 
He  was  subsequently  chased  by  the  famous  British  fri 
gate  Surprise,  which  he  easily  out-sailed,  and  continuad 
on  his  cruise  down  among  the  West  India  Islands. 

On  the  6th  of  Feb.,  at  daylight,  being  off  the  Island 
of  St.  Johns,  distant  two  leagues,  he  discovered  two 
brigs  to  leeward,  when  he  made  all  sail  in  chase  of  them; 
called  all  hands  to  quarters  ;  soon  made  out  the  nearest 
brig  to  be  armed.  At  6  A.  M.  she  hoisted  English  colors, 

*  Some  three  or  four  months  after  Captain  Boyle's  engagement  with  this 
fleet,  the  Portuguese  man-of-war  brig  here  alluded  to,  arrived  at  Lisbon.  The 
author  of  this  book  being  there  at  the  time,  had  the  curiosity  to  examine  her, 
in  company  with  his  friend  Richard  M.  Lnwrence,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and 
several  other  American  gentlemen  We  found  her  a  very  large  vessel,  with 
high  bulwarks,  a  very  formidable  battery,  rnd  to  all  appearance  big  enough 
to  hoist  the  Comet  on  her  decks. 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  137 

fired  a  gun  and  then  struck  her  flag ;  took  possession  of 
her.  She  proved  to  be  the  Alexis,  of  Greenock,  from 
Demarara,  loaded  with  sugar,  rum,  cotton,  and  coffee, 
mounting  10  guns  ;  sent  Mr.  Ball  and  six  men  on  board, 
to  take  her  to  the  United  States,  and  then  made  sail 
after  the  other.  At  eight  A.  M.,  discovered  a  man-of-war 
brig  upon  the  wind,  standing  to  the  S.E.,  apparently 
from  St.  Thomas ;  ascertained  from  the  prisoners  that 
they  were  a  part  of  a  convoy  of  nine  sail  from  Dema 
rara,  bound  for  St.  Thomas  ;  that  the  most  of  them  had 
got  in  during  the  night,  and  that  the  man-of-war  brig 
then  in  sight  had  convoyed  them,  and  that  she  was  called 
the  Swaggerer.  At  9  A.M.  hoisted  his  colors,  and  pre 
pared  to  give  the  brig  lie  was  then  in  chase  of,  a  broad 
side,  when  she  set  English  colors,  and  gave  the  Comet 
her  whole  broadside  of  great  guns,  which  was  instantly 
returned,  when  down  came  her  colors.  After  she  had 
struck  they  cut  away  her  topsail  and  jib-haulyards,  etc., 
etc.,  in  addition  to  the  damage  the  Comet  had  done  by 
her  shot,  which  was  very  considerable  ;  sent  Mr.  Cashell, 
first  Lieutenant,  and  several  men,  on  board,  to  repair 
the  rigging  as  quick  as  possible  ;  took  out  most  of  the 
prisoners,  and  sent  Mr.  Gilpin,  prizemaster,  with  seven 
men,  to  relieve  Mr.  Cashell  ;  the  brig  by  this  time  had 
made  sail  and  filled  away  in  company  with  the  Comet. 
The  man-of-war  by  this  time  had  gained  very  much 
upon  them,  he  therefore  thought  it  prudent  to  make  no 
delay,  but  to  order  Mr.  Cashell  to  make  the  best  of  his 
way  through  the  passage  between  St.  Johns  and  St. 
Thomas,  as  the  only  possible  way  of  saving  the  prize 
brig  from  recapture.  In  the  mean  time  Capt.  Boyle, 
with  the  Comet,  played  about  the  man-of-war  brig,  to  di 
vert  his  attention  until  the  prizes  had  time  to  make 
their  escape.  The  last  brig  captured  was  the  Dominica 


138  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

packet,  .of  Liverpool,  from  Demarara  bound  for  St. 
Thomas,  laden  with  rum,  sugar,  cotton,  and  coffee, 
mounting  ten  guns.  Captain  B.  then  hove  to  and  gave 
the  man-of-war  brig  time  to  approach  the  Comet,  which 
he  did  to  within  long  gun-shot ;  Capt.  Boyle  soon  four.cl 
he  could  out-sail  his  opponent  with  ease,  and  was  able 
to  tantalise  and  perplex  him,  and  in  thi«  way  he  de 
tained  him  until  his  prizes  had  made  their  e,;cape  through 
the  passage.  He  kept  him  in  play  in  this  manner  until 
noon,  when,  he  found  Mr.  C.  had  got  through  the  passage. 
He  had  ordered  him  to  steer  to  the  northward,  and  de 
cided  he  would  follow  him  as  soon  as  possible.  He  then 
made  all  sail  upon  the  wind  to  go  around  to  the  wind 
ward  of  St.  Johns,  the  Swaggerer  in  full  chase.  At  two 
r.  M.  he  had  so  out-sailed  his  adversary,  that  he  was  at 
least  four  miles  to  leeward.  At  tlus  time  he  discovered 
a  sail  on  the  weather  bow,  and  soon  after  made  her  out 
to  be  a  schooner  running  before  the  wind.  At  3  p.  M., 
being  near  her,  fired  several  muskets  at  her  when  she 
hove  to.  Put  Mr.  Wild,  prize-master,  and  six  men  on 
board,  took  out  the  prisoners,  and  ordered  him  through 
the  passage  between  Tortola  and  St.  Johns,  and  from 
thence  to  the  United  States.  She  proved  to  be  the 
schooner  Jane,  from  Demarara  for  St.  Thomas,  loaded 
with  rum,  .\ugar,  and  coffee.  The  Swaggerer  still  in 
chase,  though  very  far  to  leeward. 

It  appears  that  soon  after  the  capture  of  these  prizes, 
Capt.  Boyle  made  the  best  of  his  way  home,  and  returned 
safe  to  Baltimore  after  this  successful  cruise,  on  the  17th 
March,  passing  through  the  British  blockading  squadron, 
bidding  defiance  to  their  vigilance  and  numbers. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  this  successful  cruise, 
we  find  the  ever-active  and  gallant  Boyle  again  on  the 
broad  ocean  in  command  of  the  elegant  and  formidable 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  139 

privateer-brig  Chasseur,  always  annoying  the  enemy, 
wherever  he  chanced  to  steer  ;  sometimes  on  the  coasts 
of  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  anon  in  the  British  and  Irish 
Channels,  carrying  dismay  and  terror  to  British  trade 
and  commerce,  in  defiance  of  their  fleetest  frigates  and 
sloops-of-war,  who  strove  again  and  again  to  capture 
him,  but  were  never  able.  He  appeared  frequently  to 
tantalise  and  vex  them,  as  if  for  mere  sport,  and  at  the 
same  time  convince  them,  that  he  could  out-manoeuvre 
and  out-sail  them,  in  any  trial  of  seamanship  or  skill. 

It  must  have  been  a  fine  sight  to  see  him  handle  his 
beautiful  vessel,  and  to  a  nautical  man,  highly  exciting, 
to  have  witnessed  his  famous  escape  in  the  British  Chan 
nel,  when  nearly  surrounded  by  two  frigates  and  two 
brigs  of  war,  as  recorded  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  this 
work. 

He  received  the  fire  of  one  of  the  frigates  and  skil 
fully  hauled  out  from  among  them,  and  made  good  his 
retreat. 


CHAPTER    Y. 

CAPTAIN  SHAKER'S  ESCAPE  IN  THE  PRIVATEER  GOVERNOR   TOMPKINS  FROM  L  BRITISH 

FRIGATE— THE  PRIVATEERS  YANKEE  AND  BLOCKADE  SAIL  FROM  NEWPORT  ON  THE 
1ST  OF  JUNE,  1813 — BRITISH  POLICY  OF  TAKING  NEW  ORLEANS — SCHOONER  FLYING- 
FISH  TAKEN  BY  THE  SAUCY  JACK BRITISH  SHIP  INDUSTRY  SENT  INTO  BERGEN,  NORWAY, 

BY  THE  TRUE-BLOODED  YANKEE— BRITISH  SHIP  LONDON  PACKET  CAPTURED  BY  THE  ARGUH 
AND  SENT  INTO  BOSTON — BRITISH  PACKET  MORGIANNA,  CAPTURED  BY  BOARDING,  BY 
THE  SARATOGA — FIFTEEN  BRITISH  VESSELS  CAPTURED  OFF  JAMAICA,  BY  THE  LOVELY 

CORDELIA,  OP  CHARLESTON THE  YANKEE  PRIVATEER  RETURNS  TO  RHODE  ISLAND  AFTER 

A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE — TABLE  OF  PRIVATEERS  BELONGING  TO  SALEM — CAPTAIN  STAF 
FORD'S  FAMOUS  DEFENCE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN — ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
GRAMIHJS  AT  NEW  YORK  —  NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  THIS  VESSEL,  WHILE  CRUISING 
AMONG  THE  CANARY  ISLANDS— EULOGY  ON  CAPTAIN  JOHN  MURPHY — DESPERATE 
ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEEU  GLO5E,  CAPTAIN  RICHARD  MOON,  WITH  TWO 
ENGLISH  BRIGS,  OFF  MADEIRA — BRITISH  SI1F?  NEREID  CAPTURED  OFF  MADEIRA  BY  THE 
GOVERNOR  TOMPKTNS — INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  IN  TVfK 
SCHOONER  COMET. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  NATHANIEL  SHALER,  COMMANDER 
OF  THE  PRIVATE  ARMED  SCHOONER  "'GOVERNOR  TOMPKINS," 
TO  HIS  AGENT  IN  NEW  YORK.— DATED  AT  SEA,  JAN.  IST,  1813. 

* 

Two  days  after  dispatching  the  i^ereid,  I  took  a 
whaleman  from  London,  bound  for  the  South  Seas,  but 
as  she  was  of  no  value,  I  took  out  such  stores,  etc.,  as  1 
could  stow,  and  being  much  lumbered  with  prisoners  and 
baggage,  I  put  them  on  board,  and  ordered  her  for  Fal- 
mouth.  The  chasing  of  this  ship  had  taken  me  some 
distance  from  my  ground,  and  owing  to  calms,  I  could 
not  regain  it  until  the  25th  ult.,  when  at  sunrise  three 
ships  were  discovered  ahead.  We  made  all  sail  in  chase. 
The  wind  being  light,  we  came  up  with  them  slowly.  On 
a  nearer  approach,  they  proved  to  be  two  ships  and  a  brig. 
One  of  the  ships  had  all  the  appearance  of  a  large  trans 
port,  and  from  their  manoeuvres,  seemed  to  have  concerted 
measures  for  mutual  defence.  The  large  ship  appeared 

(140) 


1813." 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  141 


to  take  the  bulk  of  an  action.  Boats  were  seen  passing 
to  and  from  her.  She*  had  boarding  nettings  almost  up 
to  her  tops,  with  her  topmast  studding-sail  booms  out, 
and  sails  at  their  ends,  ready  for  running,  as  if  prepared 
for  a  runaway  fight. 

Her  ports  appeared  to  be  painted,  and  she  had  some 
thing  on  deck,  resembling  a  merchant's  boat.  After  all 
this  what  the  devil  do  you  think  she  was  ?  why,  have  a 
little  patience,  and  I  will  tell  you.  At  3  p.  M.  a  sudden 
squall  struck  us  from  the  northward,  and  the  ship  not 
having  yet  received  it,  before  I  could  get  our  light  sails 
in,  and  almost  before  I  could  turn  round,  I  was  under  the 
guns,  (not  of  a  transport)  but  of  a  large  frigate !  and  not 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  her. 

I  immediately  hauled  down  English  colors,  which  I  pre 
viously  had  up,  set  three  American  ensigns,  trimmed  our 
sails  by  the  wind,  and  commenced  a  brisk  fire  from  our 
little  battery,  but  this  was  returned  with  woful  interest. 
Her  first  broadside  killed  two  men  and  wounded  six 
others — (two  of  them  severely,  one  has  since  died) — it 
also  blew  up  one  of  my  salt-boxes,  with  two  nine-pound 
cartridges  ;  this  communicated  fire  to  a  number  of  pis 
tols  and  three  tube  boxes  which  were  lying  on  the  com 
panion  way,  all  of  which  exploded,  and  some  of  the 
tubes  penetrated  through  a  crevice  under  the  companion 
leaf,  and  found  their  way  to  the  cabin  floor,  but  that 
being  wet,  and  the  fire-screen  being  up,  no  further  ac 
cident  to  >k  place.  This,  together  with  the  fire  from  the 
frigate,  I  assure  you,  made  warm  work  on  the  Tomp- 
kin's  quarter-deck,  but  thanks  to  her  heels,  and  the  ex 
ertions  of  rny  brave  officers  and  crew,  I  still  have  the 
command  of  her. 

When  the  frigate  opened  her  fire  on  me,  it  was  about 
half-past  three.  I  was  then  a  little  abaft  her  beam.  To 


142  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

have  attempted  to  tack  in  a  hard  squall,  would  at  least 
have  exposed  7m  to  a  raking  fire,  and  to  have  attempted 
it,  arid  failed  to  do  so,  would  have  been  attended  with 
the  inevitable  loss  of  the  schooner.  I  therefore  thought 
it  most  prudent  to  take  her  fire  on  the  tack  on  which  I 
was,  and  this  I  was  exposed  to  from  the  position  I  have 
mentioned,  until  I  had  passed  her  bow  ;  she  all  the 
while  standing  on  with  me,  and  almost  as  fast  as  our 
selves,  and  such  a  tune  as  was  played  round  my  ears,  I 
assure  you,  I  never  wish  to  hear  again  on  the  same  key. 
At  four  his  shot  began  to  fall  short  of  us.  At  half-past 
four  the  wind  dying  away,  and  the  enemy  still  holding 
it,  his  ship  began  to  reach  us.  We  got  out  sweeps,  and 
turned  all  hands  to.  I  also  threw  all  the  lumber  from 
the  deck,  and  about  2,000  Ibs.  weight  of  shot  from 
the  after  hold.  From  about  five  P.  M.,  all  his  shot  fell 
short  of  us.  At  twenty-five  minutes  past  five  the  enemy 
hove  about,  and  I  was  glad  to  get  so  clear  of  one  of  the 
most  quarrelsome  companions  that  I  ever  met  'with. 
After  the  first  broadside  from  the  frigate,  not  a  shot 
struck  the  hull  of  the  Tompkins,  but  the  water  was  liter 
ally  in  a  foam  all  around  her. 

The  moment  before  the  squall  struck  us,  I  told  Mr. 
Farnum  that  she  was  too  heavy  for  us,  and  he  went  for 
ward  with  his  glass  to  take  another  look,  when  the 
squall  struck  the  schooner  as  if  by  magic,  and  we  were 
up  with  her,  before  we  could  get  in  our  light  sails.  My 
officers  conducted  themselves  in  a  way  that  would  have 
done  honor  to  a  more  permanent  service.  Mr.  Farnum, 
first  Lieutenant,  conducted  himself  with  his  usual  vigor. 
Mr.  Atchison,  sailing-master,  performed  his  part  in  the 
style  of  a  brave  and  accomplished  seaman.  Messrs  Mil 
ler  and  Doddi,  second  and  third  Lieutenants,  were  not 
immediately  u\^der  my  eye,  but  the  precision  and  prompt- 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  1  43 

itude  with  which  all  my  orders  were  executed,  is  suffi 
cient  proof  that  they  were  to  be  relied  upon.  Mr. 
Thomas,  boatswain,  and  Mr.  Casewell,  master 's-mate, 
were  particularly  active,  and  deserve  encouragement. 
The  name  of  one  of  my  poor  fellows  who  was  killed  ought 
to  be  registered  on  the  book  of  fame,  and  remembered 
with  reverence  as  long  as  bravery  is  considered  a  virtue- 
He  was  a  black  man,  by  the  name  of  John  Johnson  ;  a 
24  Ib.  shot  struck  him  in  the  hip,  and  took  away  all  the 
lower  part  of  his  body.  In  this  state  the  poor,  brave  fel 
low  lay  on  the  deck,  and  several  times  exclaimed  to  his 
shipmates,  "lire  away  boys,  neber  haul  de  color  down." 
The  other  was  also  a  black  man,  by  the  name  of  John 
Davis,  and  was  struck  in  much  the  same  way  :  he  fell 
near  me,  and  several  times  requested  to  be  thrown  over 
board,  saying  he  was  only  in  the  way  of  the  others. 
While  America  has  such  sailors,  she  has  little  to  fear 
from  the  tyrants  of  the  ocean.  From  the  circumstance 
of  her  shot  being  247s,  which  I  assure  you  was  the  case, 
as  we  have  felt  and  weighed  them,  I  am  of  opinion  that 
it  was  the  Laurel,  a  new  frigate,  which  I  had  information 
of.  A  gentleman  whom  I  took,  told  me  she  was  in  the 
fleet ;  that  she  was  built  and  manned  for  the  purpose  to 
cope  with  our  frigates  ;  that  if  she  got  sight  of  me,  she 
would  certainly  take  me,  as  she  was  the  fastest  sailer  he 
ever  saw. 

I  send  you  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  ;  in  every 
thing  else  we  are  in  good  order  and  high  spirits. 

Killed — John  Johnson,  John  Davis  ;  wounded — six. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  British  brig  Harriet,   captured  by  the  privateer 
General  Armstrong,  and  sent  into  Porto  Rico,  she  being 


144  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1813 

short  of  water  ;  was  seized  by  the  Spanish  government 
and  given  up  to  the  British. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1813,  the  privateer  Alex 
ander,  of  Salem,  of  18  guns,  was  chased  on  shore  in 
Well's  Bay,  by  two  British  men-of-war.  She  was  so 
closely  pursued  that  only  twenty  of  her  crew  had  time 
to  make  their  escape.  It  fortunately  happened,  however, 
that  a  large  portion  of  her  crew  were  on  board  of 
seven  prizes,  which  she  had  made  previous  to  her  cap 
ture. 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  Yankee  privateer,  of  19  guns, 
with  a  crew  of  200  men,  sailed  in  company  with  the  pri 
vateer  Blockade,  of  15  guns,  from  Newport,  K  I.,  on  a 
fresh  cruise. 

The  privateer  Grand  Turk,  of  16  guns,"  arrived  at 
Portland,  after  having  captured  three  large,  armed,  and 
very  valuable  ships,  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  all  of  which 
she  ordered  to  proceed  to  France.  On  her  passage  home 
she  also  captured  a  schooner,  which  she  sent  to  the 
United  States. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LONDON  COURIER. 

I  herewith  insert  the  following  extract  from  the  Lon 
don  Courier,  dated  June  the  17th,  1813,  in  order  to 
show  the  erroneous  opinions  entertained  in  England  at 
that  period,  with  respect  to  the  power  and  strength 
of  the  United  States  to  defend  their  own  territory  : 

"  POLICY  OF  TAKING  NEW  ORLEANS. — There  are  argu 
ments  in  our  colonial  journals,  tending  to  prove  that 
there  exists  a  necessity  for  our  government's  taking  pos 
session  of  the  province  of  New  Orleans.  We  extract  the 
following  observations  on  that  subject :  If  Great  Britain 
will  only  take  New  Orleans,  she  will  divide  the  States. 
By  shutting  that  outlet  to  the  fruits  of  Western  indus- 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  145 

try,  she  will  make  herself  known  and  respected  by  those 
States,  in  spite  of  the  power  of  the  rest  of  the  Union. 
If  in  the  war  of  1755,  France  had  been  as  superior  at 
sea,  as  Britain  then  was,  we  should  never  have  heard 
of  the  United  States  of  America.  The  back  country 
would  have  been  as  well  settled  before  this  with  French 
men,  as  it  now  is  with  the  descendants  of  Britons.  We 
ought  at  present  to  take  the  benefit  of  former  lessons, 
and  make  those  people  our  friends,  when  so  much  is  in 
our  power.  Take  New  Orleans,  which  is  at  the  thresh 
old  of  our  West  India  Islands,  and  which  could  furnish 
them  with  provisions,  at  half  the  price  they  have  been 
accustomed  to  pay.  By  such  conduct,  firm  allies  would 
be  created  on  the  Continent.  Our  West  India  planters 
would  be  gratified,  and  the  integrity  of  the  Spanish  do 
minions  in  America,  guaranteed  from  -traitorous  in 
sults." 

In  reply  to  the  policy  of  taking  New  Orleans,  an 
American  statesman  says  :  "  This  is  very  good,  but  the 
Editor  of  the  Courier  seems  not  to  know  that  two  mil 
lions  of  people  as  hardy,  brave  and  patriotic  as  the  world 
can  produce,  are  immediately  interested  in  maintaining 
an  outlet  to  New  Orleans,  who,  like  the  flood  of  their 
own  Mississippi,  would  precipitate  themselves  on  the  foe 
with  irresistible  force.  Should  the  English  attempt  to 
carry  out  their  plan,  it  would  prove  to  them  more  dis 
astrous  than  the  Walcheren  expedition." 

What  prophetic  words  were  here  announced  !  In 
about  eighteen  months  after  the  above  article  was  writ 
ten,  the  English  attempted  to  reduce  their  beautiful 
theory  to  practice.  The  result  is  too  well  known  to  need 
one  word  of  comment. 

10 


146  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Schooner  Flying  Fish,  taken  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and 
released  after  dispossessing  her  of  goods  to  the  value  of 
$1,000. 

Sloop  Catherine,  laden  with  salt;  taken  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  arid  sent  into  Cape  Henry,  Hayti. 

Schooner  Kate,  with  salt  fish,  sent  into  Cape  Henry 
by  the  same. 

Ship  Louisa,  10  guns,  laden  with  coffee,  taken  by  the 
Saucy  Jack,  and  burned  to  prevent  her  falling  into  the 
hands  of  a  British  man-of-war,  in  chase. 

Brig  Three  Brothers,  10  guns,  laden  with  2,646  bags 
and  40  tierces  of  coffee,  sent  into  St.  Mary's  by  the 
Saucy  Jack.  The  bounty  on  the  prisoners  when  brought 
in  amounted  to  a  very  handsome  sum. 

Among  the  curious  incidents  that  belong  to  privateer 
ing,  we  notice  the  fitting  out  of  a  three-masted  vessel, 
at  Salem,  called  the  Timothy  Pickering,  apparently  for 
the  chief  purpose  of  seizing  licensed  vessels,  and  those 
evading  the  non-importation  law. 

Brig  Earl  of  Moira,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Andrews, 
in  ballast,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  Industry,  of  Mar- 
blehead. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  a  few  hhds.  of  rum,  sent 

into  Eastport  by  the  privateer  boat  Terrible. 

Two  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  trading  between  the 
United  States  and  the  ports  of  Nova  Scotia,  sent  into 
Machias  by  the  privateer  boats  Holkar  and  Swiftsure, 
worth  $5,000. 

Schooner  Louisa,  of  202  tons,  one  gun,  and  26  men, 
from  St.  Vincents  for  St.  Johns,  a  first  rate  vessel,  Bal 
timore  built,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Expedition,  of  Baltimore,  having  on  board  100 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  147 


hhds.  rum,  and  30  barrels  sugar,.  The  bounty  on  this 
vessel,  cargo  and  prisoners,  allowed  by  the  United  States 
government,  was  about  $4,000. 

There  were  three  vessels  lately  sent  into  France  by 
the  True  Blooded  Yankee. 

Two  vessels  were  recently  sent  into  France  by  the 
Leo,  letter-of-marque,  Captain  T.  Lewis,  and  there 
sold. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Leo,  Captain  T.  Lewis, 
captured  a  homeward-bound  English  East  India  ship, 
said  to  be  worth  £500,000,  sterling.  Captain  L.  re 
moved  from  his  prize  to  the  Leo,  bullion  and  other  valu 
able  articles  to  the  amount  of  $60,000,  which  sum  was 
fortunately  saved,  as  the  Indiaman  was  subsequently 
recaptured  by  an  English  sloop-of-war. 

Brig  -  — ,  captured  by  the  Brutus,  letter-of-marque, 
on  her  passage  to  France,  and  ransomed  for  $5,000.  The 
Brutus  also  captured  another  vessel,  which  was  not 
heard  of. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  General  Armstrong, 

on  her  passage  to  France,  and  burnt. 

An  English  schooner  from  the  West  Indies,  laden  with 
sugar  and  coffee,  bound  for  Halifax.  The  mate  (being 
an  American),  persuaded  some  of  the  crew  to  join  him 
to  capture  her,  which  they  accomplished  without  blood 
shed,  and  took  the  vessel  safely  into  Castine. 

The  privateer  Snap-Dragon,  of  Newburn,  N".  C.,  cap 
tured  the  British  brig  Ann,  and  convoyed  her  into  that 
port,  her  cargo  consisted  of  the  following  articles,  namely: 
215  bales  of  cloths,  22  boxes,  18  trunks,  43  casks, 
74  packages,  and  22  crates  of  earthenware,  all  English 
goods,  invoiced  at  £83,000,  sterling.  She  was  truly  a 
rich  prize  for  the  captors. 

I  find  it  stated,  that  in  September,  1813,  the  privateer 


148  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

Matilda,  of  Philadelphia,  was  captured  on  the  coast  of 
Brazil,  by  the  British  ship-of-war  Lion. 

A  schooner  belonging  to  Penobscot  River,  sailed  from 
Salem.  When  off  Mount  Desert,  was  captured  by  the 
English  privateer  Dart,  and  an  English  prize  crew  put 
on  board.  All  the  Americans  were  taken  out  of  the 
prize,  except  one  young  man  eighteen  years  of  age  ;  she 
was  ordered  for  Halifax,  and  the  young  American  offi 
ciated  as  pilot.  In  a  fog,  he  adroitly  managed  to  run 
the  schooner  into  Machias,  where  she  was  taken  posses 
sion  of  by  the  revenue  cutter. 

Ship  Reprisal,  from  Scotland  for  the  Bay  of  Chaleur, 
captured  by  the  Frolic,  of  Salem,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Friends,  of  Bristol  for  Pictou,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Betsey,  taken  by  the  Frolic,  and  burnt. 

Brig ,  from  Newfoundland,  laden  with  fish,  sent 

into  Bordeaux  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Pilot, 
of  Baltimore. 

Four  vessels  captured  by  the  Lovely  Cordelia,  of 
Charleston,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  -  — ,  cut  out  of  Setang  harbor,  N.  B.,  by  a 
privateer-boat. 

Galliot  Guttle  Hoffnung,  of  Portsmouth  (Eng.),  cap 
tured  by  the  Frolic,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Jane  Gordon,  of  London,  8  guns,  and  20  men, 
captured  by  the  same,  dispossessed  of  her  valuable  arti 
cles,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Hunter,  captured  by  the  same,  and  con 
verted  into  a  cartel. 

Ship  Grotius,  of  London,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
sent  into  Portland. 

Schooners  Vigilant,  and  Susan,  captured  by  the  same, 
and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  149 

Sloop ,  laden  with  dry-goods,  sent  into  Ellsworth, 

by  a  privateer-boat  belonging  to  Beer  Island. 

Brig  -  — ,  from  Lisbon  for  London,  laden  with  wool, 
rice,  and^  cotton,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  from 
France,  and  burnt. 

Two  small  vessels  captured  by  the  privateer-boat  Ter 
rible,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Schooner  Lilly,  from  Port-au-Prince  for  London,  cap 
tured  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Pilot,  of  Balti 
more,  and  given  up,  after  taking  out  some  sugars,  etc. 

Brig  Mary  Ann,  from  St.  Lucie  for  St.  Johns,  N.  B., 
laden  with  180  puncheons  of  rum,  and  147  hhds.  of 
molasses,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  for 
$4,000. 

Brig  -  — ,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  General 
Armstrong,  on  her  passage  to  France,  and  burnt. 

A  brig  and  a  sloop  sent  into  Machias,  by  the  Indus 
try,  of  Salem. 

The  privateer  Rattlesnake,  Captain  Maffet,  captured 
the  British  packet  Lapwing,  and  after  divesting  the 
prize  of  her  armament,  &c.  &c.,  Captain  M.  transformed 
her  into  a  cartel  for  prisoners,  and  sent  her  to  Falmouth, 
England. 

Two  English  ships  taken  by  the  True-Blooded  Yan 
kee,  and  sent  into  France. 

Sloop  Traveller,  with  a  cargo  of  52  packages  of  dry- 
goods,  13  casks  of  red  wine,  70  crates  of  crockery  ware, 
68  casks  of  copperas,  15  hhds.  of  alum,  4  do.  of  sugar, 
sent  into  Machias  by  the  privateer-boat  Lark. 

Ship  Industry,  sent  into  Bergen  (Norway),  by  the 
True-Blooded  Yankee,  and  thene  sold. 

Ship  London  Packet,  14  guns,  from  Buenos  Ayresfor 
London,  laden  with  16,000  hides,  etc.,  captured  by  the 


150  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

letter-of- marque  brig  Argus,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into 
that  port,  where  the  brig  also  arrived.  The  prize  was 
estimated  at  $160,000. 

Brig  Atlantic,  from  Trinidad  for  Cork,  laden  with  320 
hhds.  of  sugar,  90  seroons  of  indigo,  and  other  valuable 
commodities,  captured  by  the  Argus-  and  ordered  for 
the  first  port  in  the  United  States.  The  indigo,  worth 
$18,000  or  $20,000,  was  taken  out  of  the  prize,  and 
safely  brought  into  port  by  the  Argus. 

Brig  Jane,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  to 
dispose  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  sundry  prizes. 

Brig  Jane,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon, 
and  given  up  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

"  His  majesty's"  packet,  Morgiana,  18  guns,  9  poun 
ders,  two  of  them  long  brass  pieces,  50  men,  burden 
400  tons,  captured  by  the  privateer  Saratoga,  of  4  guns, 
and  116  men,  by  boarding.  The  Saratoga,  chased  by 
a  frigate,  had  been  compelled  to  throw  overboard  12  of 
her  guns,  previous  to  the  action,  but  took  the  brass 
pieces  from  the  packet,  and  continued  her  cruise.  The 
Morgiana  was  obstinately  defended  ;  had  two  men  killed 
and  five  wounded,  among  the  latter,  the  captain,  severe 
ly.  The  Saratoga  had  three  men  killed  and  seven 
wounded.  Before  the  Morgiana  struck,  she  threw  over 
the  mail.  'The  prize  has  arrived  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
where  her  late  captain  has  publicly  offered  his  thanks  to 
the  prize-master,  for  his  humanity  and  kindness  during 
his  captivity. 

During  this  same  cruise,  the  Saratoga  took  a  brig  and 
a  ship,  and  burnt  them  both,  being  of  little  value. 

Schooner ,  of  130  tons,  from  St.  Johns  for  the 

West  Indies,  sent  into  *Machias  by  the  privateer  Gen. 
Stark. 

Several  American    privateers   were    on   the    British 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  151 

coast  about  this  time.  The  Lion  and  two  others  were 
cruising  on  the  coast  of  Spain.  The  Scourge  and  Rat 
tlesnake  released  180  prisoners,  which  they  took  in  a 
fleet  from  Archangel. 

Fifteen  vessels,  captured  off  Jamaica  by  the  Lovely 
Cordelia,  of  Charleston,  the  valuable  articles  were  taken 
out,  and  the  vessels  destroyed.  The  Lovely  Cordelia 
arrived  safely  in  port,  after  a  fortunate  cruise. 

A  brig,  captured  by  the  Lovely  Cordelia,  and  manned 
for  the  United  States,  was  subsequently  wrecked  on  the 
coast  of  Florida. 

Schooner  Fame,  from  Barbadoes  for  Berbice,  laden 
with  Madeira  wine,  and  government  stores,  captured  by 
the  Saratoga,  was  wrecked  on  Long  Island,  her  crew  and 
cargo  all  saved. 

Ship  St.  Lawrence,  from  England,  with  a  British  li 
cense,  full  of  most  valuable  British  goods,  worth  from 
$300,000  to  $400,000,  captured  by  an  Eastern  priva 
teer,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  N.  IL,  where  she  was 
condemned.  The  vessel  and  property  were  professedly 
American,  but  were  ultimately  proved  to  be  English,  con 
sequently  a  good  prize  to  the  captors. 

The  Privateer  Yankee,  during  her  last  cruise  cap 
tured  nine  vessels,  two  of  which  she  gave  up  to  dispose 
of  her  prisoners  and  sent  them  to  England  as  cartels,  and 
after  making  a  successful  cruise  returned  again  to  Rhode 
Island. 

The  letter-of-marque  Water- Witch,  of  New  York,  fell  in 
with  a  British  fleet  of  merchantmen,  and  captured  three 
of  them,  which  she  manned  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  President,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  sugar,  molas 
ses,  and  rum,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Polly,  of 
Salem. 

The  Yankee,  on  her  last  cruise  of  49   days,  captured 


152  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

the  brig  Ann,  with  rum,  salt,  and  dry-goods,  for  New 
foundland,  valued  at  $40,000  ;  brig  Mary,  with  salt,  etc., 
worth  $20,000  ;  brig  Despatch,  cargo  of  general  English 
manufactures,  invoiced  at  £80,000,  sterling  ;  brig  Tele- 
machus,  with  rigging,  coals,  provisions,  etc.,  $40,000  ; 
brig  Favorite,  of  little  value,  given  up  to  release  the  pri 
soners  ;  schooner  Katy,  laden  with  wine  ;  bark  Paris, 
10  guns,  captured  after  35  minutes  fight,  a  very  valuable 
vessel ;  brig  Howe,  6  guns,  threw  the  guns  overboard, 
and  gave  up  the  vessel  to  the  prisoners  ;  John  and  Mary, 
loaded  with  provisions  and  other  goods,  worth  $49,000. 
These  loaded  vessels  were  part  of  a  fleet  from  Cork  ;  two 
of  them  were  ordered  for  France,  and  the  rest  for  differ 
ent  ports  in  the  United  States.  It  is  possible  the  greater 
part  of  the  Yankee's  prizes  may  be  recaptured.  If  she 
had  belonged  to  the  United  States,  sailing  under  orders 
to  destroy  the  commerce  of -the  enemy,  the  loss  of  pro 
perty  would  have  been  equal  to  half  a  million  of  dollars 
on  his  part,  and  the  gain  of  180  prisoners  on  ours,  in  the 
space  of  49  days. 

Thirteen  merchant  vessels  captured  on  tne  coast  of 
Spain,  by  the  Leo  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

COPY  OF  A  LETTER   FROM  COMMODORE  LEWIS,  TO  THE  SECRETARY 

OF  THE  NAVY. 

"  Sir,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  the  recap 
ture  of  the  American  schooner  Sparrow,  of  Baltimore, 
from  New  Orleans  bound  to  this  port,  laden  with  sugar 
and  lead.  On  the  3d,  the  enemy's  ship  Planteigenet 
chased  the  said  vessel  on  shore,  near  Long  Branch,  six 
miles  distant  from  where  the  flotilla  is  stationed,  and 
took  possession  of  her  with  about  one  hundred  men.  A 
detachment  from  the  flotilla  marched  against  them,  at 
tacked  them,  drove  them  from  on  board  the  vessel,  and 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  153 

took  possession  under  a  fire  from  the  enemy's  ship  and 
barges.  In  the  affair  we  lost  one  man  ;  the  enemy's 
loss  must  have  been  considerable,  as  many -were  seen  to 
fall.  The  whole  cargo,  together  with  sails,  rigging,  etc., 
have  been  saved,  vessel  bilged. 

"  The  saving  of  the  cargo  of  the  Sparrow,  was  a  very 
gallant  affair.  The  74  came  near  enough  to  fire  grape 
shot  at  our  people,  having  no  sort  of  shelter,  they  laid 
down  on  the  sand,  and  presented  their  heads  to  the 
enemy  ;  and  when  his  barges  neared  the  shore,  they  rose 
and  beat  them  off." 

New  York,  November  7,  1813. 

The  London  papers  give  a  doleful  account  of  the  pro 
ceedings  of  an  American  privateer  off  the  mouth  of  the 
Tagus  (Portugal.)  They  report  that  she  had  captured 
32  British  vessels,  many  of  them  richly  laden,  and  that 
their  merchant  vessels  were  unable  to  leave  the  ports  of 
Great  Britain  without  convoy. 

They  further  add,  that  the  American  privateers  seem 
ed  to  increase  daily,  that  they  infest  every  part  of 
Europe,  that  they  were  also  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  and 
among  the  West  India  Islands,  and  that  there  was  no 
security  for  trade  and  commerce  except  under  the  guns 
of  their  men-of-war. 

I  herewith  extract  from  a  Salem  newspaper,  the  num 
ber  and  names  of  all  the  privateers,  lost  and  taken  by 
the  British,  belonging  to  that  place  and  the  neighboring 
ports,  which  are  as  follows  : — 

Schooner  Fair  Trader,  Brig  Montgomery, 

"          Regulator,  Ship  Alexander, 

Active,  Schooner  Cossack, 

"          Dolphin,  Boat  Owl, 

"          Buckskin,  S'oop  Wasp, 

Revenge  Schooner  Growler-, 

Ship  John,  Schooner  Da  r—  !o  .», 

Schooner  Enterprise,  GuM'mijjper— rrM.st-a.vay  and  lost. 


154  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

The  whole  value  of  the  above  1C  privateers,  was  esti 
mated  at  $164,100.  The  sale  of  prizes  brought  into 
Salem,  up  to  this  date,  amounts  to  $675,695  93. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

An  American  schooner,  from  one  of  the  Eastern  ports, 
laden  with  700  barrels  of  flour,  bound  for  Halifax,  sent 
into  New  Bedford  by  the  Water-Witch  of  Bristol, 
R.  I. 

Sloop  Eliza  Ann,  valuable,  sent  into  Eastport.  The 
commander  of  the  British  sloop-of-war  Martin,  had  de 
manded  her  restoration,  under  the  penalty  of  destroying 
the  town.  The  demand  was  rot  complied  with,  and 
some  shot  were  exchanged  between  that  vessel  and  the 
fort,  without  apparent  injury  to  either  party.  The  Eliza 
Ann  was  captured  by  the  Timothy  Pickering. 

The  schooner  Experiment,  of  New  York,  was  captured 
off  Cape  Henry  ;  a  prize-master  and  three  men  were 
sent  on  board,  and  two  of  the  crew  taken  out,  the  Cap 
tain  and  one  man  left.  The  same  night  the  captain  re 
captured  his  vessel. 

The  schooner  Federalist,  taken  by  the  British,  was 
sent  into  Cape  May  for  ransom.  The  citizens  took  pos 
session  of  the  vessel  and  set  the  men  at  liberty. 

Captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  famous  for  his  defence  of  the 
Dolphin  privateer,  in  the  Chesapeake,  during  the  last 
summer,  wras  attacked  close  in  with  Charleston  bar,  on 
the  27th  of  November,  by  five  boats,  from  a  British  brig- 
of-war,  when  close  upon  him,  he  tore  one  of  the  boats 
to  pieces  with  grape  shot,  and  gave  the  rest  employment 
in  saving  their  comrades.  The  brig,  after  discharging  a 
broadside  at  him,  hauled  off.  Capt.  S.  had  one  man 
wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  known. 

Captain  Kennedy,  of  the  sloop  Betsey,  from  Maurice 


1813.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  155 

River  for  Newbern,  X.  C.,  was  captured  by  the  Lacede 
monian,  who  put  5  men  and  a  prize-master  on  board, 
leaving  Capt.  K.  and  another  person  on  board,  which 
two  made  out  to  surround  the  six  Englishmen,  and  take 
them  safely  to  Newbern.  The  prize-master  promised 
that  no  further  resistance  should  be  made,  and  he  did 
not  attempt  it,  he  of  course  was  well  watched. 

The  Timothy  Pickering,  privateer,  sent  into  Salem 
the  brig  Dart.  The  Pickering  also  about  the  same  per 
iod,  sent  a  schooner  into  the  same  port. 

Sloop  Glen.  Hodgkinson,  from  Curracoa  for  Martin 
ique,  with  salt  and  some  specie,  captured  by  the  Sara 
toga,  but  cast  away  near  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  the 
prize-master  and  crew  arrived  safe. 

Brig  Edward,  from  N.  B.,  laden  with  oil  and  fish,  was 
captured  and  sent  into  Folly  landing  by  the  Fox  priva 
teer,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Lloyd,  from  Goree,  captured  by  the  Saratoga, 
her  cargo  of  camwood,  muskets  and  pistols  taken  out, 
and  the  vessel  burnt. 

Ship  Yenus,  of  10  guns,  from  London  for  Bonavista, 
captured  by  the  Saratoga,  divested  of  her  guns  and  all 
her  valuables,  and  suffered  to  proceed  with  a  little 
"  friendly  advice/'  not  being  worth  sending  in.  The 
Saratoga  had  thrown  10  of  her  guns  overboard,  when 
chased  by  a  British  ship-of-war,  and  now  supplied  her 
self  very  opportunely  from  the  Yenus. 

Schooner  Joseph,  of  Surinam,  laden  with  government 
stores,  captured  by  the  Saratoga,  who  took  out  her  car 
go,  and  ransomed  the  vessel,  putting  on  board  29  pri 
soners  on  parole. 

Schooner  Lady  Cockburn,  with  a  cargo  of  indigo  and 
coffee,  taken  by  the  same — took  out  the  cargo,  arid  al 
lowed  her  to  proceed  to  her  destined  port. 


156  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

The  Saratoga  has  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N".  C.  ;  be 
sides  the  cargoes  of  the  above  vessels,  she  is  said  to  have 
on  board  a  considerable  sum  in  specie.  She  watered 
at  the  Canary  Islands,  where  she  was  very  civilly 
treated. 

The  brig  Sir  John  Sherbroke,  of  10  guns  and  40  men, 
taken  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  after  a  fight  of  twenty  minutes, 
in.  which  she  had  two  men  killed,  and  five  wounded. 
The  Saucy  Jack  sustained  but  little  injury,  except  three 
men  slightly  wounded. 

The  valuable  ship  Manly,  4  guns,  laden  with  wine,  oil, 
etc.,  from  Halifax,  for  the  West  Indies,  sent  into  Char 
leston,  S.  C.,  by  the  Revenge,  of  Baltimore. 

A  brig  laden  with  sugar  and  molasses,  captured  by 
the  Caroline  of  Baltimore  ;  was  recaptured  by  the  Bri 
tish  off  Charleston. 

We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  noticing  the  exploits  of 
the  Lion  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  off  the  coasts  of  Spain 
and  Portugal.  She  safely  arrived  at  L'Orient  in  France, 
with  about  $400,000  on  board,  after  having  destroyed 
15  or  20  English  vessels. 

Schooner  Messenger,  from  the  West  Indies,  laden 
with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N".  C.,  by 
the  Comet,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  -  — ,  laden  with  rum,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N. 
C.,  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Eliza. 

Brig  Agnes,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  Saucy-Jack, 
on  her  late  cruise,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  John,  divested  of  her  cargo  of  provisions,  etc., 
etc.,  taken  by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

The  Saucy-Jack  took  several  small  British  vessels, 
which  the  commander  gave  up  "  without  ransom."  The 
privateer  arrived  at  Charleston  ten  or  twelve  days 
aft  or. 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  157 

Brig  Abel,  from  the  West  Indies,  laden  with  rum  and 
sugar,  sent  into  North  Carolina  by  the  Caroline,  of  Bal 
timore. 

UNFORTUNATE    RENCONTRE  BETWEEN    A  BRITISH    SLOOP-OF-WAR, 
AND  THE  PRIVATEER  GRAMPUS,  OF  BALTIMORE.   . 

The  schooner  Grampus  safely  arrived  at  New  York, 
from  an  unfortunate  cruise  among  the  Canary  Islands. 

Previous  to  her  leaving  her  cruising  ground,  she  cap 
tured  the  British  brig  Speculation,  from  Lanzarote  bound 
to  London,  but  as  she  was  an  old  vessel  of  little  value, 
Capt.  Murphy  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Soon  after  he  gave  up  his  prize,  a  British  sloop-of- 
war  hove  in  sight,  and  was  so  well  disguised  as  a  mer 
chantman,  that  Capt.  Murphy  was  decoyed  quite  under 
her  guns,  before  he  discovered  his  mistake.  Believing  her 
to  be  a  letter-of-marque,  he  was,  as  it  were,  taken  by 
surprise  when  the  man-of-war  opened  her  ports,  and 
gave  the  Grampus  a  terrible  broadside  from  her  main- 
deck  battery  when  within  half  pistol-shot  distance.  By 
this  destructive  discharge  Captain  Murphy,  and  one 
seaman  were  killed,  and  several  of  the  crew  wounded. 

The  privateer  suffered  greatly  in  her  sails  and  rigging, 
and  it  was  only  by  the  utmost  exertion  she  was  able  to 
make  her  escape  from  the  enemy. 

The  writer  of  this  article  was  personally  acquainted 
with  Captain  John  Murphy  ;  some  months  previous  to 
this  sad  event  we  met  at  Bordeaux.  Capt.  M.  was  then 
in  command  of  the  Grampus. 

At  that  period  I  commanded  the  letter-of-marque 
David  Porter,  which  vessel  was  lying  at  La  Teste,  a 
small  port  about  thirty  miles  from  Bordeaux. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  add  that  Captain  Murphy  was 
a  brave,  worthy  man,  and  an  excellent  seaman,  highly 


158  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.     I  have  no 
doubt  his  hard  fate  drew  many  a  sympathetic  tear  from 
the  gentle  and  good  of  his  numerous  friends  in  Balti 
more. 

"SO    SLEEP    THE    BRAVE." 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Sloop  Resolution,  from  Jersey  for  Lisbon,  with  linen, 
paper,  etc.,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner 
Gen.  Armstrong,  on  her  passage  from  France  to  the 
United  States,  dispossessed  her  of  her  cargo,  and  gave 
her  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Brig  Phoebe,  from  Ireland  for  Madeira,  laden  with 
butter  and  potatoes,  captured  by  the  same,  and  scuttled. 
The  General  Armstrong  soon  after  arrived  at  New 
York. 

Brig  Commerce,  from  Martinique  for  Halifax,  laden 
with  rum  and  molasses,  a  prize  to  the  letter-of-marque 
brig  Flirt,  of  New  York.  The  prize  was  partially  dis 
masted,  and  otherwise  so  severely  damaged  as  induced 
the  crew  to  abandon  her.  She  was  consequently  de 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Fanny,  from  Trinidad,  laden  with  sugar, 
carried  into  Charleston,  S.  C.,  by  the  Revenge. 

Brig  Victoria,  laden  with  250  hhds.  of  Jamaica  rum, 
40  hhds.  of  sugar,  and  a  quantity  of  coffee,  sent  into 
Savannah  by  the  Rapid,  of  Charleston. 

British  ship  Tryal,  200  tons,  burnt  by  the  Grand 
Turk. 

Brig ,  from  Lisbon,  captured  by  the  same,  and 

ransomed  for  $8,000. 

Schooner  -  — ,  from  Martinique,  laden  with  120 
hhds.  of  molasses,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Caroline. 
The  prize  had  British  and  Swedish  papers. 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  159 

Brig  Silena,  captured  by  the  Revenge  of  Baltimore, 
and  burnt. 

The  elegant  privateer-ship  Jacob  Jones,  of  600  tons, 
carrying  20  twelve-pounders,  and  a  picked  crew  of  127 
men,  lately  sailed  from  Boston,  on  a  cruise  in  the  East 
Indies. 

Brig ,  from  St.  Lucia,  sent  into  Elizabeth  City, 

(N.  C.),  laden  with  140  hhds.  and  200  barrels  of  sugar, 
by  the  Caroline. 

The  Privateer  Rapid,  of  Charleston,  being  chased  off 
the  Mississippi,  by  the  British  sloop-of-war  Herald,  was 
unfortunately  upset.  Her  crew,  however,  were  soon 
picked  up,  and  saved  by  the  boats  of  the  enemy.  They 
were  kindly  treated  as  prisoners  of  war. 

I  hope  no  civilized  nation  would  have  acted  otherwise 
under  similar  circumstances. 

Brig ,  from  Halifax  for  England,  laden  with  lum 
ber,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and  burnt. 

The  Grand  Turk,  about  this  time,  arrived  at  Salem. 
Besides  the  above  vessels,  she  captured  and  manned  two 
valuable  ships,  one  brig  Snd  one  schooner.  One  of  the 
ships  was  estimated  to  be  worth  $150,000.  The  Grand 
Turk  cruised  about  20  days  in  the  mouth  of  the  English 
Channel.  She  had  no  fighting,  nor  was  she  chased  by  a 
man-of-war  during  her  absence. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  sugar,  coffee,  etc.,  sent 

into  Sunbury  by  the  Patapsco,  letter-of-marque,  of  Balti 
more. 

Pink  stern-boat,  belonging  to  Herrings  Gut,  with 
$20,000  worth  of  English  goods  on  board,  was  captured 
off  George's  River,  by  a  row-boat  privateer,  and  sent 
into  a  neighboring  port. 

Ten  enemy's  vessels,  captured  by  the  Caroline,  (in 
addition  to  those  whose  safe  arrival  have  been  noticed,) 


160  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

divested  them  of  their  valuable  articles,  burnt,  sunk, 
etc.  The  Caroline  arrived  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,with  a  large 
amount  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  on  board.  She  caught  also 
two  traitor  vessels.  The  following  is  an  extract  from 
her  log-book  :— 

"  Nov.  20th — Fell  in  with  the  American  sloop  Osiris, 
Driggs,  from  Martinique  bound  to  St.  Bartholomew, 
with  a  cargo  of  molasses.  Capt.  Driggs,  taking  the 
Caroline  for  a  British  cruiser,  showed  his  British  license 
to  Captain  Almeda,  at  the  same  time  informing  him, 
that  he  had  supplied  Commodore  Oliver,  of  his  Majesty's 
ship  Valiant,  of  New  London,  wiih  a  quantity  of  pota 
toes  and  apples,  for  which  he  was  paid,  and  that  he  had 
no  doubt  if  he  fell  in  with  an  American  privateer  he 
should  be  hung.  Put  Mr.  Canoning  and  a  prize-crew 
on  board  the  Osiris,  and  ordered  her  for  the  first  Ame 
rican  port." 

The  letter-of-marque  Herald,  arrived  at  New  York 
on  the  26th  of  December,  from  Charleston.  On  the  pas 
sage  she  engaged  an  English  schooner,  and  after  having 
exchanged  several  broadsides* they  separated,  it  being 
near  night  when  the  rencontre  occurred. 

An  American  privateer  of  18  guns,  sailed  from  Bor 
deaux,  in  October,  bound  on  a  cruise. 


DESPERATE  ACTION  OFF  MADEIRA,  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER 
SCHOONER  GLOBE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  RICHARD  MOON,  COMMANDER, 
AND  TWO  ENGLISH  PACKETS. 

The  Globe  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1814,  when  the  captain  reported  an  account 
of  his  action.  I  have  re- written  the  substance  of  it  in 
nautical  style,  as  follows  :— 

On  the  1st  of  November,  while  cruising  off  Madeira, 
we  saw  a  sail  to  leeward  ;  bore  away  to  ascertain  her 


1813.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  161 

character.  She  proved  to  be  a  large  man-of-war  brig, 
and  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  I  thought  it  most  pru 
dent  to  haul  off.  Before  we  separated,  however,  we  re 
ceived  a  nine-pound-shot  under  our  quarter,  very  near 
the  water-line.  After  getting  clear  of  the  man-of-war, 
we  proceeded  off  the  port  of  Funchal.  We  there  sawT 
two  brigs,  backing  and  filling  about  the  roads,  appar 
ently  ready  to  leave  port.  They  probably  saw  the  Globe 
in  the  offing,  and  were  perhaps  waiting  for  us  to  leave 
the  Island,  to  enable  them  to  proceed  to  sea  without 
molestation. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  they 
sailed  out  of  the  roads,  and  steered  to  the  southward. 
We  gave  chase,  but  as  it  soon  became  dark  and  squally, 
we  lost  sight  of  them. 

We  however,  still  continued  the  pursuit  under  easy 
sail,  until  daylight  the  next  morning. 

November  the  3d,  at  6  o'clock,  we  saw  the  two  brigs 
again  bearing  S.W.  from  us,  some  six  or  eight  miles  dis 
tant,  we  continued  the  chase  until  half-past  11  A.  M., 
when  the  largest  brig  commenced  firing  upon  us  with 
her  stern  guns,  which  was  soon  returned,  when  the  action 
commenced  in  good  earnest.  At  half-past  twelve  noon, 
we  sheered  up  alongside  of  our  adversary-  to  board 
him. 

The  schooner  unfortunately  fell  off,  so  that  only  the 
first  and  second  Lieutenants,  and 'three  seamen,  had 
time  to  get  on  board. 

These  poor  fellows  'were  probably  overpowered  and 
killed  by  the  enemy.  At  this  time  the  Globe  was  very 
much  injured  in  her  sails  and  rigging.  While  we  were 
thus  engaged  with  the  first  brig,  the  other  one  bore  up, 
and  passing  athwart  our  bows,  gave  us  a  terrible  raking 
fire,  which  completely  cut  up  our  sails  and  rigging. 
11 


162  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

This  broadside  added  to  the  injury  we  had  already 
received  from  her  consort,  rendered  our  schooner  for  a 
considerable  time  quite  unmanageable. 

We  however,  continued  the  fight  at  close  quarters, 
until  we  compelled  the  largest  brig  to  strike  her  colors, 
at  half-past  three  o'clock. 

The  other  brig  continued  the  action  with  great  obstin 
acy,  pouring  in  upon  us  broadside  after  broadside  within 
half  pistol-shot  distance. 

The  largest  brig  having  surrendered,  we  managed  to 
get  the  Globe  under  steerage-way,  and  return  the  fire 
of  the  second  brig,  which  had  so  severely  injured  us. 
We  were  now  able  to  return  his  fire  with  compound  in 
terest,  at  close  quarters,  until  half-past  four  o'clock,  when 
we  found  our  vessel  almost  in  a  sinking  condition  •  hav 
ing  received  seven  shot  in  our  hull  nearly  between  wind 
and  water. 

Notwithstanding  our  disabled  condition,  we  managed 
to  haul  to  windward  to  take  possession  of  the  brig  that 
first  struck  ;  when  to  our  surprise,  she  again  hoisted  her 
colors,  and  gave  us  a  broadside,  being  aided  by  her  con 
sort.  We  were  obliged  to  haul  off  to  repair  damages, 
having  the  greater  part  of  our  standing  and  running 
rigging  shot  away,  and  not  a  sail  but  what  was  com 
pletely  riddled  with  shot,  and  almost  useless. 

The  two  brigs  were  packets.  We  saw  one  of  them 
throw  her  mails  overboard  during  the  action. 

The  largest  brig  mounted  eighteen  guns,  and  the 
other  sixteen  twelve-pounders.  They  were  mostly  brass 
pieces. 

We  found  one  double-headed  shot  sticking  in  our 
si-de  which  weighed  12  Ibs. 

We  have  every  reason  to  believe,  that  the  enemy  suf 
fered  severely,  and  that  great  numbers  of  men  were 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  163 

killed  on  board  both  these  vessels,  by  our  great  guns  and 
musketry. 

After  the  action,  we  proceeded  to  the  Grand  Canary 
Island  to  repair  damages,  and  refit. 

While  in  that  port,  we  heard  from  Santa  Cruz,  Tene- 
riffe,  that  a  British  packet  brig,  carrying  18  guns,  and 
another  brig  of  14,  had  recently  arrived  at  that  port. 
They  reported  that  a  few  days  before  they  had  a  severe 
engagement  with  an  American  privateer,  and  that  they 
succeeded  in  beating  her  off,  with  great  loss  to  them 
selves,  having  had  27  men  killed  and  wounded,  besides 
being  terribly  cut  up  in  their  hulls,  sails,  and  rigging. 

The  loss  of  the  Globe  was  eight  killed,  and  fifteen 
wounded.  Here  follow  the  names  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  :— 

KILLED. —  John  Harrison,  first  lieutenant ;  John 
Smith,  second  lieutenant  ;  Joshua  Brown,  seaman  ; 
Richard  Blair,  do.;  James  Thelis,  do.;  Samuel  D.  Smith, 
do.;  Sandy  Forbes,  do.;  Oliver,  do. 

WOUNDED. — Richard  Moon,  captain  ;  Noah  Allen, 
prize-master  ;  John  Frinks,  do. ;  Asa  Hart,  seaman  ; 

Ab.  Kinhart,  do.; Fortune,  do.;  Job  E.  Wheeler,  do.; 

P.  Short,  do.;  F.  Statt,  do.;  T.  Jifford,  do.;  J.  Arnold, 
J.  Beatly,  do.;  John  Wilson,  do.;  John  Mitchell,  do.; 
Daniel  Milton,  do. 

The  force  of  the  Globe  was  one  long-torn  amidships, 
and  eight  twelve-pound  carronades,  with  a  complement 
of  ninety  men,  including  officers  and  marines. 


PRIZES   CAPTURED  BY   PRIVATEERS. 

Hermaphrodite  brig  Cossack,  from  Martinique  for  Ber 
muda,  laden  with  133  hhds.,  2  tierces,  and  68  barrels  of 
sugar,  sent  into  Georgetown,  S.  C.,  by  the  letter-of- 


164  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

marque  schooner  General  Stark,  of  2  guns  and  12  men, 
on  her  passage  to  St.  Domingo.  The  General  Stark  had 
previously  recaptured  an  American  vessel,  and  ordered 
her  into  port,  and  at  the  time  of  capturing  the  Cossack, 
had  only  eight  men  on  board,  three  of  whom,  with  a 
boy,  brought  in  the  prize  and  her  crew  (12  in  number), 
all  safe.  This  is  truly  "  Yankee  enterprize."  The  Gen. 
Stark  belongs  to  Salem.  The  bounty  allowed  to  our 
letters-of-marque  and  privateers,  (on  the  reduction  of 
duties,)  on  the  cargo  of  this  vessel,  is  equal  to  nearly 
$4,000. 

Schooner  Jasper,  from  Surinam,  laden  with  coffee, 
sugar  and  rum,  a  prize  to  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore, 
sent  into  Georgetown,  S.C.  It  is  stated  this  vessel  would 
have  been  wrecked  and  lost  on  the  bar,  but  for  the  meri 
torious  exertions  of  Lieutenant  Monk,  of  the  United 
States  Navy. 

Schooner  Rebecca,  from  Halifax  for  Bermuda,  cargo 
live  stock  and  provisions,  sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the 
Grand  Turk. 

Schooner  Agnes,  from  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland,  for 
Bermuda,  laden  with  fish,  sent  into  France  by  the 
same. 

Brig  Criterion,  a  traitor  vessel,  laden  with  80  hhds. 
of  rum,  captured  by  the  Caroline  of  Baltimore,  and  sent 
into  Stonington,  Conn.  This  vessel  was  tried  and  con 
demned  for  account  of  the  captors. 

Schooner  Henry,  laden  with  fish,  sent  into  Charleston 
by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk. 

Schooner  Maria,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Nereid,  280  tons,  10  guns,  from  London  for 
Buenos  Ayres.  laden  with  250  bales  of  dry-goods,  263 
packages  and  trunks  of  the  same,  150  casks,  hhds.  and 
tierces  of  hardware  and  jewelry,  869  bundles  of  iron 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  165 

hoops,  80  bars  of  iron,  and  a  quantity  of  coal,  etc.,  the 
whole  valued  at  £75,000  sterling,  captured  off  Madeira, 
by  the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  Few  York,  and  sent  into 
that  port.  The  Governor  Tompkins  had  also  captured 
two  other  very  valuable  vessels,  and  manned  them  for  the 
United  States,  and  was  left  in  chase  of  a  ship  ;  all  these 
had  belonged  to  a  fleet  that  sailed  under  convoy,  but 
separated  in  a  gale.  Allowing  this  vessel's  cargo  to  be 
worth  £75,000,  the  bounty  in  the  reduction  of  duties, 
of  itself,  is  equal  to  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  dollars. 

Eight  vessels,  taken  by  the  True-Blooded  Yankee, 
and  burnt  off  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

The  Castor,  .captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her 
valuable  articles,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  also  captured  the  follow 
ing  British  vessels,  namely,  the  Active,  "Watson,  Cora, 
and  Eliza,  and  sent  them  into  France. 

Schooner  Traveller,  laden  with  119  hhds.  and  60  bar 
rels  of  sugar,  besides  coffee,  etc,,  and  sent  into  Squam 
by  the  Frolic,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  George,  laden  with  dry-goods,  and  sundries, 
sent  into  Ellsworth  by  the  Fly,  privateer. 

Sloop  Experiment,  with  dry-goods,  hardware,  and 
lumbar,  sent  into  Machias,  by  the  same  privateer  as 
above. 

The  Fox  privateer  has  arrived  at  Salem,  having  made 
several  valuable  captures.  The  Fox  was  loaded  with 
dry-goods  and  hardware,  and  had  on  board  21  English 
prisoners. 

The  Vigilant,  a  tender  to  the  Admiral  of  the  Windward 
Island  station,  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  and 
sent  into  Wilmington,  1ST.  C. 

Schooner -,  laden  with  sugar  and  coffee,  sent  into 

Savannah  by  the  Patapsco,  of  Baltimore. 


106  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813 


The  very  valuable  brig,  Young  Husband,  laden  with 
dry-goods,  hardware,  etc.,  from  Bristol,  England,  for 
Madeira,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins. 

Mne  vessels  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore, 
divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and  sunk.  The  Comet 
is  stated  to  have  had  a  handsome  amount  in  cash  and 
rich  goods  on  board.  Besides  the  above,  she  captured 
and  manned  four  prizes,  one  of  which  had  at  this  time 
arrived.  She  had  a  terrible  battle  with  the  ship  Hi- 
bernia,  of  800  tons,  22  guns,  and  a  large  complement 
of  men,  but  was  beaten  off.  The  fight  lasted  about  eight 
hours.  The  great  height  and  strength  of  the  ship  pro 
bably  saved  her.  The  privateer  had  three  men  killed, 
and  16  wounded.  The  ship  had  Skilled,  and  13  wound 
ed.  The  Comet  put  into  Porto  Rico  to  refit,  and  the 
Hibernia  arrived  at  St.  Thomas,  both  much  injured. 

Brig  Tullock,  of  200  tons,  10  guns,  from  Shields  for 
Martinique,  with  a  valuable  assorted  cargo,  sent  into 
Gloucester  by  the  Fox,  of  Salem. 

The  rich  ship  Minerva,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from 
Bristol  (England),  for  the  West  Indies,  was  captured 
by  the  Fox,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  N".  H. 

Sloop ,  captured  by  the  General  Stark.  She  was 

subsequently  cast  away  on  Cape  Cod,  and  lost. 

Schooner  Harmony,  of  Yarmouth,  N".  S.,  with  a  few 
puncheons  of  rum,  captured  by  the  privateer-boat  Ter 
rible,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  an  Eastern  port. 

Boat  Humbird,  laden  with  crockery,  etc.,  taken  by 
the  privateer-boat  Surprise,  and  sent  into  Machias. 

A  valuable  brig  was  captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Salem,  on 
her  late  cruise,  manned  and  ordered  for  the  United 
StUtes.  Two  days  after  the  privateer  had  left  her,  she 
was  fallen  in  with  by  two  French  frigates.  Captain 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  167 

Damerell,  the  prize-master,  supposing  them  to  be  Eng 
lish,  hoisted  a  Swedish  flag.  But  the  French  Commo 
dore  sent  a  boat  on  board,  ordering  the  officer  to  set 
fire  to  her  immediately,  as  there  were  three  other  ves 
sels  in  sight,  which  was  done,  under  the  belief  that  she 
was  a  Swedish  vessel.  When  the  prize-master  and  his 
crew  were  carried  on  board,  and  the  matter  was  duly 
represented,  the  Commodore  expressed  his  regret  for 
what  had  happened,  and  told  the  prize-master  that  the 
next  vessel  he  took  should  be  given  him  in  compensa 
tion  for  the  brig  destroyed.  On  the  same  day,  the  fri 
gates  captured  the  Portuguese  brig  Prince  Regent,  from 
New  Haven,  bound  to  Cayenne,  with  a  cargo  of  flour, 
lumber,  etc.,  and  according  to  promise,  she  was  given  up 
to  Captain  Damerell  and  crew,  for  reasons  before  stated. 
The  Prince  Regent  being  short  of  water,  Capt.  Damerell 
put  into  St.  Barts,  where  he  found  the  owner  of  the  ves 
sel,  who  immediately  claimed  her  as  his  property,  and 
after  an  investigation,  the  Governor  ordered  her  to  be 
restored  to  her  former  owner. 

A  British  vessel  laden  with  sugar,  a  prize  to  the 
Comet,  of  Baltimore,  being  short  of  provisions,  lately 
put  into  Porto  Rico  for  a  supply.  But  the  government 
seized  and  gave  her  up  to  the  English  claimant. 

The  privateer  Diomede,  Crowningshield,  arrived  at 
Salem,  after  a  short  cruise,  in  which  she  captured  and 
manned  six  vessels  belonging  to  the  enemy.  She  also 
brought  in  35  prisoners. 

The  privateer  schooner  Yiper,  Captain  D.  Dithurbide, 
of  this  port,  sailed  from  Charleston  on  the  24th  of  Feb 
ruary,  on  a  cruise,  and  arrived  at  New  Bedford  on  Fri 
day,  March  4th,  having  made  three  prizes,  viz.,  the 
British  ship  Victory ,  burthen  300  tons,  mounting  10 


168  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

guns,  and  13  men,  from  Jamaica  for  Liverpool,  laden 
with  484  bales  of  cotton,  140  tons  of  logwood,  170  tier 
ces,  280  bags  of  coffee,  16  ceroons  of  indigo,  (twelve  of 
which  she  brought  in),  8  casks  of  white  lead,  and  three 
casks  of  castor-oil.  She  was  a  new  vessel,  coppered  to 
the  bends,  and  cost  £13,000,  sterling  ; 

British  schooner  Nelson,  of  Halifax,  from  St.  Thomas, 
with  50  puncheons  of  rum  ; 

Spanish  schooner,  Rosa,  from  Bermuda,  with  84  hhds., 
17  tierces,  and  74  bbls.  of  sugar,  with  British  license. 
These  vessels  were  all  ordered  into  port.  Capt.  Dithur- 
bide  also  brought  in  14  prisoners. 

Notwithstanding  Admiral  Warren  had  declared  the 
Chesapeake  Ba}T  under  a  strict  blockade,  still,  in  March, 
1814,  from  50  to  60  Baltimore  privateers  were  cruising 
in  almost  every  sea,  laughing  at  John  Bull's  paper 
blockades,  and  sending  rich  prizes  into  the  ports  along 
the  Atlantic  board. 

During  the  week  ending  March  26th,  many  valuable 
American  vessels  arrived  in  the  ports  of  the  United 
States. 

The  privateers  Comet  and  Chasseur,  of  Baltimore  with 
other  vessels  belonging  to  that  port,  were  doing  a  great 
business  in  the  West  Indies.  It  was  stated  that  the  for 
mer  had  taken  19  prizes  on  her  last  cruise.  The  latter 
had  made  six  prizes,  five  of  which  she  burnt,  after  di 
vesting  them  of  their  valuable  articles.  The  Comet  had 
been  into  an  out-port  of  Tortola,  and  cut  out  several 
vessels. 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  was  owned  by  a  Mr.  Preble, 
an  American  gentleman,  at  that  period  residing  in  Paris. 
She  had  been  thirty-seven  days  at  sea,  during  which  she 
captured  twenty-seven  vessels,  and  made  two  hundred 


1813.]  'THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  169 

and  seventy  prisoners.  While  on  this  cruise  she  took  an 
island  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  held  it  six  days  ; 
she  also  took  a  town  in  Scotland,  and  burned  seven  ves 
sels  in  the  harbor.  She  was  soon  after  fitted  out  to 
make  another  cruise  in  company  with  the  Bunker  Hill, 
of  14  eighteen-pounders  and  140  men.  When  the  True- 
Blooded  Yankee  arrived  in  France  she  was  laden  with 
the  following  spoils  : — 18  bales  of  Turkey  carpets.  43 
bales  of  raw  silk,  weighing  twelve  thousand  pounds  ; 
20  boxes  of  gums,  46  packs  of  the  best  skins,  24  packs 
of  beaver  skins,  160  dozen  of  swan  skins,  190  hides, 
copper,  etc. 

Schooner  Mary,  of  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Mace 
donian,  letter-of-marque  of  Baltimore,  and  ransomed. 

Sloop,  -  — ,  from  Jamaica  for  the  Spanish  Main, 
captured  by  the  Hope,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  di 
vested  of  a  quantity  of  dry-goods,  and  given  up. 

Schooner  Curfew,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  from  Nova 
Scotia  for  St.  Lucia,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Alfred 
of  Salem. 

Brig  Tercilla,  laden  with  fish,  from  St.  John's,  New 
foundland  for  Bermuda,  captured  by  ditto  and  burnt. 

Ship  -  — ,  full  built  vessel  of  500  tons,  sent  into 
Beaufort,  N.  0.,  by  the  Chasseur  of  Baltimore,  from 
Liverpool  for  Pejisacola,  with  a  large  cargo  of  crockery, 
hardware,  white  lead,  dry-goods,  etc.  She  was  under 
Swedish  colors,  but  the  property  was  unquestionably 
British,  from  the  papers  found  on  board  of  her. 

Ship  -  — ,  of  400  tons,  armed  with  12  long  twelve- 
pounders,  from  Smyrna,  with  an  immensely  valuable 
cargo  of  Turkey  goods,  sent  into  the  Isle  of  Batz, 
(France,)  by  the  True-Blooded  Yankee. 

Ship  -  — .  of  400  tons,  16  guns,  nine-pounders,  with 
a  full  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  from  Buenos  Ayres, 


170  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.'  [18J3. 

sent  into  Abrevach,  (France,)  by  the  True-Blooded 
Yankee. 

These  are  in  addition  to  the  prizes  already  stated  to 
have  been  made  by  this  astonishing  vessel.  She  arrived 
at  Brest  full  of  the  richest  spoils  of  the  enemy. 

Armed  schooner  from  Halifax;  formerly  the  American 
privateer  Eldridge  Gerry,  of  Portland,  laden  with  fish 
and  oil,  sent  into  Cape  Francois,  by  a  Baltimore  letter- 
of-marque. 

Ship  -  — ,  laden  with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by 
the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Delille,  of  Baltimore, 
on  her  passage  from  Bordeaux  to  New  Orleans,  and 
sunk.  The  Delille  had  previously  captured  and  manned 
a  very  valuable  vessel,  and  could  not  spare  hands  to 
navigate  the  second  prize. 

Schooner  Mary  &  Joseph,  from  Grenada  for  St. 
Thomas,  with  sixty-six  hogsheads  of  rum  and  seven  of 
sugar,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Diomede. 

Brig  Bykar,  laden  with  earthenware,  hollow-ware, 
etc.,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Fox. 

Schooner  Hope,  sent  into  Bristol  by  the  Diomede, 
with  a  cargo  of  rum,  sugar  and  lime-juice. 

Schooner  Susan  &  Eliza,  of  Bermuda,  laden  with 
120,000  Ibs.  of  coffee,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  by 
the  Mars,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  -  — ,  called  a  Spaniard,  but  with  a  British 
license  ;  a  good  prize,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  Viper. 

Schooner  -  — ,  valuable,  laden* with  dry-goods  and 
provisions,  sent  into  North  Carolina  by  the  Fairy  of 
Baltimore. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into 

Newport  by  the  Yiper. 

Ship  -  — ,  under  Russian  colors,  from  Pensacola  for 
London,  laden  with  1,100  bales  of  cotton,  sent  into 


1813.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  171 

Savannah  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston  ;  cargo 
supposed  to  be  British. 

The  total  number  of  prizes,  for  the  last  four  weeks, 
safely  arrived  or  satisfactorily  accounted  for,  amounts  to 
thirty-nine  vessels  :  estimated  value,  two  millions  and 
seventy  thousand  dollars,  [$2,070,000.] 

Brig  Superb,  with  a  cargo  of  salt,  sent  into  Charles 
ton,  by  the  Mars  of  New  York. 

Brig  Friends,  of  Halifax,  from  Grenada,  with  112  pun 
cheons  of  rum  ;  taken  by  the  Diomede,  of  Salem,  and 
chased  on  shore  on  Long  Island,  by  three  men-of-war. 
The  cargo  was  saved. 

Schooner  Sea-Flower,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Tuckahoe,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  to  Aux 
Cayes,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Hazard,  from  Nassau,  for  St.  Domingo,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

The  Tuckahoe  also  captured  another  English  vessel, 
(whose  name  is  not  given),  which  prize  she  manned 
and  sent  into  port.  The  Tuckahoe  narrowly  escaped 
capture  off  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  having  been 
chased  for  several  days  by  sundry  English  frigates  and 
brigs- of- war.  She,  however,  by  superior  sailing,  and 
good  management,  eluded  their  grasp,  and  got  safe 
into  Boston,  in  March,  1814. 

Brig  Sovereign,  of  and  for  Liverpool,  of  300  tons, 
with  an  assorted  cargo.  Sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the 
America,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  William,  laden  with  sugar,  coffee  and  mo 
lasses,  from  Martinique  for  St.  Thomas.  She  was  cap 
tured  by  the  Diomede,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 


CHAPTER    YI. 

DESPERATE  BATTLE  FOUGHT  BETWEEN  THE  AMERICAN  PRIYATEER-SCIIOONER  DECATUR,  OP 
CHARLESTON,  CAPTAIN  DIRON,  AND  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  DOMINICA,  ON 
THE  STH  AUGUST,  1813 — SAFE  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  DECATUR  AND  HER  PRIZE  AT  CHARLESTON 
— REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE — THE  DECATUR  SAILS  ON  A  FRESH  CRUISE  FROM  CHAR 
LESTON,  ON  THE  26TH  NOVEMBER VOYAGE  TO  FRANCE  IN  LETTER-OF-MARQUE, 

SCHOONER  DAVID  PORTER,  GEORGE  COGGEfcHALL,  COMMANDER,  LOADS  AT  PROVIDENCE, 
RHODE  ISLAND — SAILS  FROM  NEWPORT — CHASED  OFF  CHARLESTON — ARRIVES  AT  THAT 
PORT — SAILS  FROM  CHARLESTON  FOR  FRANCE — LOSS  OF  FIRST  PRIZE — TERRIBLE  GALE  IN 
THE  BAY  OF  BISCAX — THE  SCHOONER  THROWN  ON  HER  BEAM-ENDS — ARRIVES  AT  LA 
TESTE — SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  BAY  OF  BISCAY — MAKES  SEVERAL  CAPTURES — ARRIVES 

AT  L'lLE  DIEU — REMARKS  ON  THAT  ISLAND DIFFICULTIES  AT  BORDEAUX — HURRIES 

AWAY  FROM  LA  TESTE — VISIT  TO  LA  ROCHELLE — BRIG  IDA'S  ESCAPE  FROM  LA  ROCHELLE 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  MARY  BY  THE  RATTLESNAKE — 

VISIT  TO  BORDEAUX  AND  PARIS. 

DESPERATE  BATTLE,  FOUGHT  BETWEEN  THE  AMERICAN  SCHOONER- 
PRIVATEER  DECATUR,  OF  CHAKLESTON,  CAPTAIN  DOMINIQUE 
DIRON,  AND  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  DOMINICA 
COMMANDED  BY  LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  WILMOT  BARRETTE. 

THE  Decatur  was  armed  with  6  twelve-pound  car- 
ronades,  and  1  long  eighteen-pounder  on  a  pivot  amid 
ships,  with  a  crew  of  103  men,  including  the  officers. 

Captain  Barretters  vessel  had  12  twelve-pound  carron- 
ades,  2  long-sixes.  1  brass  four-pounder,  and  a  thirty- 
two-pound  carronade  on  a  pivot,  with  a  crew  of  88  men 
and  officers. 

The  Decatur  was  cruising  in  the  track  of  the  West 
India  traders,  on  their  return  passage  to  England.  On 
the  5th  of  August,  1813,  when  in  latitude  23°4/  N". 
longitude  about  67°0'  W.,  during  the  early  part  of  the 
morning,  the  Decatur  was  steering  to  the  Northward, 
under  easy  sail.  At  half-past  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 

(172) 


[1813.  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  173 

the  man  at  the  masthead  discovered  two  sail,  bearing 
about  South,  when  the  Decatur  tacked  to  the  southward, 
to  get  the  weather-gage,  and  by  so  doing,  ascertain  the 
character  of  the  two  strangers. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  they  were  made  out  to  be  a  ship  and 
a  schooner,  standing  to  the  Northward.  At  half-past 
twelve  (noon),  being  a  little  to  the  windward,  and  not 
far  distant,  the  Decatur  wore  round  and  ran  a  little 
to  the  leeward,  when  the  strange  schooner  set  English 
colors. 

At  one  P.M.  the  privateer  wore  again,  still  keeping  to 
windward  of  his  adversary.  In  the  course  of  about 
half  an  hour,  the  strange  schooner  fired  a  shot  at  the 
Decatur,  but  without  effect.  Captain  Diron  then  beat 
to  quarters,  and  prepared  for  boarding  the  enemy. 

After  having  loaded  all  his  great  guns  and  small  arms, 
he  hoisted  American  colors,  having  previously  got  on 
deck  all  the  necessary  ammunition,  water,  etc. 

He  then  ordered  all  the  hatches  secured,  so  that  no 
person  could  leave  the  deck,  and  with  his  grappling 
irons  ready,  bore  down  upon  the  enemy.  His  plan  was 
to  discharge  all  his  guns,  both  great  and  small,  and  then 
board  his  adversary  in  the  smoke. 

For  this  purpose,  at  about  two  o'clock,  Captain  Diron 
wore  ship,  in  order  to  pass  under  the  stern  of  his  oppo 
nent,  and  give  him  a  raking  fire.  As  they  neared  each 
other,  the  Englishman  luffed  to,  and  gave  the  privateer 
a  broadside,  but  the  most  of  his  shot  passed  over  her. 
At  a  quarter  past  two,  Captain  Diron  fired  his  long  torn 
which  fire  the  enemy  returned  from  his  main-deck  bat 
tery.  Captain  D.  continued  to  discharge  his  long  gun, 
a  second  and  third  time,  and  being  now  within  half- 
gunshot  distance,  it  must  have  done  the  enemy  much 
damage. 


174  THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

As  the  English  schooner  evinced  a  disposition  to  run 
to  leeward,  Captain  Diron  was  fearful  that  he  wished  to 
make  his  escape.  To  prevent  this,  the  Decatur  filled 
away  to  bring  his  bowsprit  over  the  stern  of  his  anta 
gonist,  but  to  counteract  this  manoeuvre,  the  English 
schooner  gave  him  a  whole  broadside,  which  fortunately 
for  him,  only  injured  a  portion  of  his  rigging  and  sails. 

The  Decatur  answered  the  broadside  by  again  giving 
him  a  shot  from  his  long-torn,  at  the  same  time  order 
ing  the  boarders  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning,  to 
rush  on  board  of  the  enemy,  should  an  opportunity  offer. 
It  was  now  about  a  quarter  to  three  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  as  the  privateer  approached  to  board,  three 
cheers  were  given  by  the  crew  ;  when  the  English 
schooner  gave  the  Decatur  a  whole  broadside,  which 
killed  two  of  her  crew,  and  materially  injured  the  sails 
and  rigging. 

In  the  mean  time.,  the  privateer  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry.  The  Englishman  then  kept  away,  to  prevent 
being  boarded,  while  the  Decatur  followed  close  under 
his  stern,  to  avoid  another  broadside  from  him,  and  lose 
not  a  moment  in  boarding  him. 

In  this  manner  the  conflict  was  kept  up,  and  another 
attempt  made  to  board,  but  it  was  again  repulsed.  Capt. 
Diron  then  ordered  the  drum  to  beat  for  the  boarders, 
and  the  crew  cried  out  to  let  them  board. 

The  Decatur 's  bowsprit  was  forced  over  the  stern  of 
the  enemy,  and  her  jib-boom  pierced  through  the  main 
sail  of  the  English  schooner.  It  was  now  half-past  three 
o'clock.  While  the  fire  of  the  musketry  was  being  kept 
up  by  a  portion  of  the  privateer's  crew,  the  rest  rushed 
from  the  bow-sprit  on  board  the  Dominica.  A  terrible 
scene  of  slaughter  and  bloodshed  then  ensued  ;  the  men 
fought  with  swords,  pistols,  and  small  arms.  In  short,  ifc 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  1  t  5 

was  a  hand  to  hand  combat,  and  was  well  sustained  on 
both  sides,  until  Capt.  Barrette  and  his  principal  officers 
were  either  killed  or  wounded. 

Mr.  Vincent  Safifth,  first-prize  master,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Wasborn,  quarter-master,  were  the  first  two  of  the  De- 
catur's  crew  who  got  on  board  of  the  English  schooner. 

This  action  was  one  of  the  hardest  contested  battles 
on  record.  Both  parties  fought  with  unparalleled  vigor 
and  desperate  courage.  The  decks  were  covered  with 
the  dead  and  wounded.  The  conquerors  themselves 
hauled  down  the  English  colors.  On  board  the  Deca- 
tur  there  were  five  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  On 
board  the  Dominica,  thirteen  killed  and  forty-seven 
wounded,  five  of  whom  died  soon  after  the  action  ;  mak 
ing  altogether  sixty  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  the  killed  was  the  commander,  G.  W.  Bar 
rette,  Mr.  J.  Backer,  sailing-master,  and  Mr.  D.  Brown, 
purser.  Mr.  Archer  and  Mr.  Parry,  midshipmen,  were 
wounded. 

The  only  officers  not  killed  or  wounded  were  the  sur 
geon  and  one  midshipman.  The  first  Lieutenant  was  on 
shore  sick. 

When  the  two  schooners  separated,  the  rigging  and 
sails  of  both  vessels  were  in  a  very  bad  condition.  To 
restore  and  repair  damages,  and  look  after  the  wounded, 
was  the  first  care  of  Capt.  Diron,  his  officers,  and  crew. 

On  returning  to  Charleston  with  his  prize,  Capt.  Diron 
made  the  land  near  Georgetown,  ran  down  along  the 
shore,  and  crossed  Charleston  bar  without  meeting  an 
enemy.  For  several  days  previous  to  his  arrival,  there 
had  been  two  English  men-of-war  brigs  cruising  off  the 
harbor,  but  fortunately  for  him,  they  had  steered  away 
to  the  southward,  so  that  he  had  time  to  enter  the  port 
without  being  molested. 


176  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813 

Captain  I)iron  was  a  fortunate  man  in  more  respects 
than  one,  for  the  day  after  capturing  the  Dominica,  he 
fell  in  with,  and  took  without  resistance  the  British  ship 
London  Trader,  from  Surinam  bound  to  London.  She 
had  on  board  a  valuable  cargo,  consisting  of  209  hhds. 
of  sugar,  140  tierces  of  molasses,  55  hhds.  of  rum,  700 
bags  of  coffee,  and  60  bales  of  cotton.  The  prize  arrived 
safe  in  Savannah,  on  the  same  day  that  Captain  Diron 
reached  Charestori. 

During  the  combat  between  the  Decatur  and  the  Do 
minica,  which  lasted  over  an  hour,  the  British  govern 
ment  packet  Princess  Charlotte  remained  a  passive 
spectator  of  the  scene.  As  soon  as  the  two  schooners 
were  disengaged  from  each  other,  she  tacked  about,  and 
stood  to  the  southward.  She  left  St.  Thomas  bound  to 
England,  under  convoy  of  the  Dominica,  to  a  certain 
latitude,  and  from  thence  to  proceed  on  her  course 
alone. 

REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE. 

The  surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  attributed  the 
loss  of  their  vessel,  to  the  superior  skill  of  the  Decatur's 
crew  in  the  use  of  musketry,  and  to  Captain  Diron's 
adroit  manner  in  manoeuvring  his  schooner  during  the  ac 
tion,  which  rendered  their  carriage  guns  in  a  manner, 
almost  useless. 

Captain  Barrette  was  a  brave  young  man,  not  more 
than  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  wounded  early 
in  the  action,  by  two  musket-balls  in  the  left  arm,  but 
he  fought  till  the  last  moment,  refusing  to  surrender  his 
vessel,  although  urged  to  do  so  by  the  few  survivors  of 
his  crew.  He  declared  several  times  his  determination 
not  to  survive  the  loss  of  his  schooner. 

One  of  the  Lieutenants  of  the  Decatur  received  a  se- 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  177 


sabre  wound  in  the  hand,  from  Captain  Barrette,  a 
few  moments  before  he  fell. 

-  It  was  acknowledged  by  the  English  prisoners,  that 
during  their  captivity,  they  were  treated  with  great 
kindness  and  humanity  by  Captain  Diron,  his  officers 
and  crew  ;  and  that  the  utmost  care  and  attention  were 
paid  to  the  sick  and  wounded. 

The  crew  of  the  captured  vessel  were  all  fine  looking 
young  men.  There  were  among  them  eight  or  ten  boys. 
To  see  this  youthful  crew  on  their  arrival  at  Charleston, 
in  their  mangled  condition,  was  enough  to  freeze  the 
blood  with  horror,  of  any  person  not  accustomed  to  such 
sanguinary  scenes. 

Among  the  crew  was  a  small  boy,  not  eleven  years 
old,  who  was  twice  wounded  while  contending  for  vic 
tory  on  the  deck  of  the  Dominica. 

The  writer  of  this  action  was  in  Charleston  soon  after 
the  Dominica  was  brought  into  that  port,  and  heard  the 
most  of  what  he  has  narrated,  from  those  who  were  ac 
quainted  with  all  the  particulars  of  this  bloody  conflict. 
He  also  saw  daily,  one  of  the  wounded  English  midship 
men,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  who  had  the  privilege  of 
walking  about  the  city,  on  his  parole  of  honor. 

The  famous  privateer  Decatur,  Captain  Diron,  sailed 
from  Charleston  on  a  new  enterprise,  the  same  day  that 
the  writer  of  this  article  arrived  there. 

It  was  with  unfeigned  pleasure  I  witnessed  the  de 
parture  of  the  brave  Diron  in  pursuit  of  fresh  laurels, 
and  in  sincerity  wished  him  a  successful  cruise. 

VOYAGE  TO  FRANCE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  »AVID 

PORTER.  j'i-ojf 

On  the  20.ii  of  October,  1813,  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  David  Porter,  of  New  York,  was  lying  at  Pro- 


178  THE    AMERICAN    1'RIVATEEUS.  [1813. 

vidence,  R.  L,  taking  in  an  assorted  cargo  for  Charles 
ton.  She  was  a  fine,  fast-sailing  vessel  of  about  200 
tons  burthen,  armed  with  a  long  18  pound  centre  gun, 
four  six  pounders,  muskets,  boarding  pikes,  etc.,  etc,, 
etc.,  and  was  commanded  by  George  Coggeshall,  At 
this  time  the  U,  S.  frigate  President,  Commodore  Rod- 
gers,  was  lying  in  this  port.  He  had  recently  arrived 
from  a  cruise,  and  had  discharged  the  most  of  his  men. 
From  among  them  I  obtained  the  greatest  part  of  my 
petty  officers  and  seamen,  amounting  in  all  to  thirty 
fcouls.  Having  finished  loading  the  schooner,  I  sailed 
down  the  river  to  Newport,  to  get  ready  to.  leave  port, 
and  wait  for  a  favorable  opportunity  to  proceed  to  sea.  At 
this  period  there  were  several  English  line-of-battle  ships 
and  frigates  cruising  directly  off  Newport,  to  blockade 
Commodore  Rodgers  and  prevent  him  from  going  to 
sea.  Wherever  there  was  one  American  frigate  in  any 
of  our  ports,  the  English  generally  kept  several  seventy- 
fours  and  frigates  to  watch  and  blockade  it, 

The  merchantmen  and  lotters-of-marque,  at  this 
period,  when  ready  for  sea,  were  generally  obliged  to 
wait  for  bad  weather  or  dark  nights  to  leave  port.  This 
was  my  case,  After  lying  a  few  days  at  Newport,  I 
sailed  towards  evening,  on  the  14th  of  November,  in  a 
thick  N.Ef  snow-storm,  and  passed  through  the  British 
fleet  in  darkness  and  obscurity,  and  fortunately,  without 
molestation.  I  made  the  best  of  my  way  towards  Char 
leston.  During  the  passage  I  was  chased  several  times 
by  British  ships  of  war,  for  our  coast  at  that  time  was 
lined  with  these  unwelcome  visitors.  I  however  was 
fortunate  enough  to  escape  them  all. 

At  day-light,  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  Novem 
ber,  in  ten  fathoms  water,  off  Cape  Roman,  saw  an  Eng 
lish  man-of-war  brig  just  out  of  gun-shot,  op  our  wea-* 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  179 

ther  quarter.     He  immediately  made  sail  in  chase  of  us. 

The  wind  being  off  the  land,  to  the  N.N.E.,  the 
enemy  kept  to  windward,  close  along  shore,  in  hopes  of 
driving  me  off  to  leeward.  Just  out  of  sight  of  Charleston 
bar,  there  were  stationed  two  brigs-of-war,  but  being 
aware  of  the  trap  laid  for  me,  I  resolved  to  hug  the  wind, 
and  push  boldly  for  the  channel  at  the  bar,  at  the  en 
trance  of  the  port,  and  defend  myself  the  best  way  I 
could. 

The  chase  from  off  Cape  Roman  to  Charleston  bar, 
lasted  about  four  hours,  during  which  time  I  had  gained 
but  very  little  on  the  enemy.  When  I  hauled  up  for 
the  bar  upon  the  wind,  I  brought  the  Englishman  upon 
my  weather  beam,  at  long  gun-shot  distance.  To  as 
certain  whether  I  could  reach  him,  I  gave  him  a  shot 
from  long  Tom,  and  though  it  did  not  quite  hull  him, 
I  saw  the  shot  strike  so  near  him  that  it  dashed  the  water 
all  over  his  larboard  quarter. 

As  the  brig's  guns  were  carronades,  his  shot  could  not 
reach  us,  while  I  should  have  annoyed  him  with  our 
long  Tom,  had  he  thought  it  advisable  to  continue  the 
action.  Just  at  that  moment,  however,  the  famous  pri 
vateer  Decatur,  Capt.  Diron,  and  the  letter-of-marque 
Adeline,  Capt.  Craycroft,  of  Philadelphia,  were  crossing 
the  bar,  arid  bearing  down  upon  the  brig,  all  three  of 
us,  with  our  ensigns  flying.  The  Englishman  probably 
thought  it  was  most  prudent  to  decline  the  combat,  and 
speedily  squared  his  yards,  and  ran  out  of  sight  to  lee 
ward. 

The  Decatur  and  Adeline  steered  on  their  course  to 
the  eastward,  while  I  crossed  the  bar  and  proceeded  up 
to  Charleston.  Soon  after  my  arrival,  I  obtained  a  full 
freight  for  a  port  in  France,  consisting  of  331  bales  of 
cotton,  at  twenty-six  cents  per  pound,  with  five  per 


180  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1813. 

cent,  primage.  The  gross  freight  and  primage  on  this 
small  cargo  of  cotton  amounted  to  twenty-three  thousand 
dollars,  which,  for  a  pilot-boat  schooner  of  200  tons, 
certainly  appears  like  an  enormous  freight  on  sea  island 
cotton,  when  the  article  could  at  that  time  be  purchased 
for  twelve  or  thirteen  cents  per  pound.  But  when  the 
expense  of  sailing  one  of  these  letters-of-marque  is  taken 
into  consideration,  the  freight  is  not  too  high.  The  in 
surance  at  that  time  was  from  fifteen  to  twenty  per  cent, 
and  seamen's  wages  at  thirty  dollars  per  month,  and 
other  expenses  in  like  proportion. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  I  finished  loading,  and  got 
all  the  crew  on  board.  The  next  day  we  were  ready  for 
sea,  but  unfortunately  the*  wind  blew  fresh  from  the 
southward,  with  dark,  disagreeable  rainy  weather. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  had  lately  assem 
bled  at  Washington,  and  great  fears  were  entertained  by 
many  that  an  embargo  would  soon  be  laid.  I  was,  of 
course,  extremely  anxious  to  get  out  of  port,  as  such  a 
measure  would  have  been  ruinous  to  myself  and  the 
other  owners  of  my  vessel  ;  and  as  it  was  impossible  to 
get  over  the  bar  while  the  wind  was  blowing  strong,  di 
rectly  into  the  harbor,  to  avoid  being  stopped,  and  to 
keep  my  men  on  board,  I  judged  it  best  to  drop  as  low 
down  the  harbor  as  possible,  and  watch  the  first  favor 
able  moment  to  proceed  to  sea. 

Fortunately  the  weather  cleared  up  the  next  day,  and 
with  a  favorable  breeeze  and  fine  weather,  I  left  the  port 
of  Charleston  on  the  20th  of  December,  1813,  bound  to 
Bordeaux.  I  had  a  good  run  off  the  coast,  and  met  with 
nothing  worth  remarking  until  the  27th,  about  a  week 
after  leaving  port,  when  I  fell  in  with  a  small  English 
brig,  from  Jamaica,  bound  to  Nova  Scotia.  As  it  was 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  the  time 


1813.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  181 

blowing  a  strong  gale  from  the  N.W.,  with  a  high  sea 
running.  I  did  not  think  it  safe  to  board  him  until  the 
gale  should  moderate,  and  the  sea  become  smoother, 
and  therefore  ordered  him  to  carry  as  much  sail  as  pos 
sible,  and  follow  me  on  our  course  to  the  eastward  until 
better  weather.  He  reluctantly  followed,  and  once  be 
fore  dark,  I  was  obliged  to  hail,  and  give  him  to  under 
stand,  that  if  he  showed  too  great  a  disposition  to  lag 
behind,  or  did  not  carry  all  the  sail  his  brig  could  bear, 
he  would  feel  the  effect  of  one  of  my  stern-guns.  This 
threat  had  the  desired  effect,  and  he  followed  kindly  at 
a  convenient  distance,  until  midnight,  when  it  became 
very  dark  and  squally,  and  we  soon  after  lost  sight  of  our 
first  prize,  which  I  did  not  much  regret,  as  I  could  not 
conveniently  spare  men  enough  to  send  him  into 
port. 

From  this  time  until  we  got  near  the  European  coast 
we  scarcely  saw  a  sail,  and  did  not  meet  with  a  single 
man-of-war.  Thus,  while  the  whole  coast  of  the  United 
States  was  literally  lined  with  English  cruisers,  on  the 
broad  ocean  there  were  very  few  to  be  seen  :  a  clear  proof 
that  the  risk  of  capture  between  Newport  and  Charles 
ton,  was  infinitely  greater  than  in  going  to  France. 

At  this  period  we  were  not  obliged  to  deliver  the 
goods  on  freight  at  any  particular  place,  but  at  any  port 
in  France,  from  St.  Juan  de  Luce  to  Ostend.  My  bills 
of  lading  were  filled  up  on  this  principle,  to  "  Bordeaux, 
or  a  port  in  France, v  so  that  on  the  arrival  of  the  goods, 
the  owners  or  agents  were  bound  to  receive  them  at  any 
place  where  the  vessel  was  fortunate  enough  to  enter. 
My  object  was  to  get  as  near  Bordeaux  as  possible  ;  still 
I  did  not  like  to  attempt  entering  the  Garonne,  as  the 
English  generally  kept  several  frigates  and  smaller  ves 
sels  stationed  directly  off  the  Cordovan  Light,  which 


182  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

rendered  it  extremely  difficult  and  hazardous.  I  there 
fore  decided  to  run  for  the  harbor  of  La  Teste. 

About  a  week  before  we  got  into  port,  while  in  the  Bay 
of  Biscay,  namely,  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  January, 
we  encountered  one  of  the  most  severe  gales  from  the 
westward  that  I  ever  experienced.  It  commenced  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  and  blew  a  perfect  hurri 
cane,  which  soon  raised  a  high  cross-sea  ;  at  8  o'clock, 
A.M.,  I  hove  the  schooner  to  under  a  double-reefed  fore 
sail,  lowered  the  fore-yard  near  the  deck,  and  got  every 
thing  as  snug  as  possible.  At  12  o'clock  noon,  a  tre 
mendous  sea  struck  her  in  the  wake  of  the  starboard 
fore-shrouds.  The  force  of  the  sea  broke  one  of  the 
top  timbers  or  stauncheons,  and  split  open  the  plank- 
sheer,  so  that  I  could  see  directly  into  the  hold.  The 
violence  of  the  blow,  and  the  weight  of  water  that  came 
on  board,  threw  the  vessel  nearly  on  her  beam-ends. 
Fortunately  the  foresail  was  split,  and  the  bulwarks  torn 
away  by  the  water,  and  being  thus  relieved,  she  gradually 
righted.  We  then  threw  overboard  two  of  the  lee-guns, 
water-casks,  etc.,  and  after  nailing  tarred  canvas  and 
leather  over  the  broken  plank-sheer,  got  ready  to  veer 
ship,  fearing  the  injury  received  in  the  wake  of  the  star 
board  fore-shrouds  would  endanger  the  foremast.  We 
accordingly  got  ready  to  hoist  a  small  piece  of  the  main 
sail,  and  the'n  kept  her  off  before  the  wind  for  a  few 
minutes,  and  watched  a  favorable,  smooth  time  to  bring 
her  to  the  wind  on  the  other  tack. 

During  the  time  that  the  schooner  ran  before  the 
wind,  she  appeared  literally  to  leap  from  one  sea  to 
another.  We  soon,  however,  brought  her  up  to  the 
wind  on  the  other  tack  without  accident  ;  and  thus, 
under  a  small  piece  of  the  mainsail,  she  lay  to  pretty 
we]].  As  the  gale  contiuecl  to  rage  violently-  1  feared 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  183 

we  might  ship  another  sea,  and  therefore  prepared,  as 
it  were,  to  anchor  the  vessel  head  to  wind.  For  this 
purpose  we  took  a  square-sail  boom,  spanned  it  at  each 
end  wTith  a  new  four-inch  rope,  and  made  our  small 
bower  cable  fast  to  the  bight  of  the  span,  and  with  the 
other  end  fastened  to  the  foremast,  threw  it  overboard, 
and  payed  out  about  sixty  fathoms  of  cable  ;  she  then 
rode  like  a  gull  on  the  water,  and  I  was  absolutely 
astonished  to  see  the  good  effect  of  this  experiment. 
The  spar  broke  the  sea,  and  kept  the  schooner  nearly 
head  to  the  wind  until  the  gale  subsided. 

The  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  January  20th,  we 
again  made  sail,  and  on  the  26th,  six  days  after  this 
tempest,  got  safe  into  La  Teste,  thirty-seven  days  from 
Charleston.  While  we  providentially  escaped  destruc 
tion,  other  ships  were  less  fortunate  ;  many  vessels 
were  stranded  and  wrecked  along  the  coast  j  five  sail  of 
English  transports  were  thrown  on  shore  near  La  Teste, 
and  most  of  their  crews  perished  in  the  same  gale.  On 
my  arrival,  all  my  papers  were  sent  up  to  Paris  ;  ano 
although  we  were  all  well,  still  we  were  compelled  by 
the  government  to  ride  quarantine  for  six  days. 

After  this  was  accomplished,  I  landed  all  my  cotton, 
and  having  put  it  into  a  large  and  convenient  ware 
house,  I  proceeded  directly  to  Bordeaux.  The  distance 
from  La  Teste  to  Bordeaux  is  about  thirty  miles,  and 
as  the  roads  were  in  a  bad  state  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  it  was  deemed  most  advisable  to  let  my  cargo  re 
main  at  La  Teste  until  some  favorable  change.  At  Bor 
deaux  every  thing  was  in  confusion,  as  the  enemies 
of  France  were  at  that  time  entering  the  empire  in  al 
most  every  direction.  It  was  reported,  while  I  w^as 
there,  that  a  part  of  the  Russian  and  Austrian  armies 
were  within  thirty  leagues  of  Paris,  and  that  Lord 


184  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

Wellington,  with  his  aj-my,  was  in  the  Landes  in  pursuit 
of  Marshal  Soult,  who  was  on  his  way  to  Toulouse  ;  and 
great  fears  were  entertained  that  a  part  of  the  English 
army  would  soon  be  in  Bordeaux.  I  was  therefore  ex 
tremely  anxious  to  get  away  at  all  hazards,  not  knowing 
whether  the  English  would  respect  private  persons  and 
private  property. 

All  the  American  vessels  had  left  Bordeaux  for  fear 
of  the  English,  and  had  gone  down  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Garonne  ;  some  were  bound  home  to  America,  and 
others  strove  to  get  to  La  Rochelle,  as  that  was  a 
strongly  fortified  town,  and  would  probably  hold  out 
longer  than  this  place.  Every  day  brought  us  worse 
news  from  Paris  and  other  quarters,  and  from  present 
appearances  the  country  could  not  hold  out  much 
longer. 

In  this  state  of  things,  when  all  was  hubbub  and  con 
fusion,  the  merchants  were  unwilling  to  advance  any 
portion  of  the  freight  on  the  cotton,  I  therefore  found 
••it  difficult  to  obtain  sufficient  means  to  pay  my  neces 
sary  disbursements.  T,  however,  at  length  prevailed  on 
my  consignees,  Messrs.  Brun  freres,  to  purchase  for  me 
one  hundred  casks  of  wine,  and  fifty  pipes  of  brandy, 
to  charter  a  small  coasting  vessel  to  carry  these  articles 
to  La  Rochelle,  and  wait  my  arrival  there.  They  also 
agreed  to  furnish  me  with  sufficient  funds  to  pay  my  out 
fit  at  La  Teste.  Having  made  these  arrangements,  I 
forthwith  proceeded  to  La  Teste  on  horseback. 

Although  at  this  period  the  Austrian  and  Russian 
armies  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paris,  and  Lord 
Wellington  at  the  head  of  a  victorious  army  overrun 
ning  the  south  of  France,  it  was  astonishing  to  see  how 
little  was  known  to  the  country  people  of  this  region 
about  the  military  state  of  the  empire.  Perhaps  not  a 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  185 

man  in  a  thousand  knew  that  there  was  a  Russian  or  an 
English  soldier  within  a  hundred  leagues  of  France. 

One  day,  in  passing  through  a  small  village,  I  stopped 
at  a  house  to  get  some  water,  and  found  a  poor  woman 
wringing  her  hands  and  weeping  as  though  her  heart 
would  break.  On  inquiring  the  cause  of  her  grief,  she 
said  :  "  Sir,  they  have  just  taken  away  my  son  to  join 
the  army,  and  I  have  already  lost  two  of  my  children 
in  the  same  way.  Oh  !  I  shall  never  see  him  again  !" 
I  offered  the  poor  woman  all  the  consolation  I  could.  I 
told  her  I  was  a  stranger,  and  had  no  right  to  in 
terfere  with  the  affairs  of  another  nation,  but  at  the 
same  time,  if  she  would  keep  quiet,  I  could  assure  her 
that  there  was  no  danger  of  losing  her  son — that  the 
wars  were  nearly  at  an  end,  and  that  peace,  in  all  human 
probability,  would  be  concluded  in  a  few  weeks,  when 
her  son  would  be  restored  to  her  again.  At  these 
words  the  poor  creature  was  completely  overjoyed,  and 
blessed  me  a  thousand  times.  When  T  mounted  my 
horse  and  rode  off,  I  could  not  but  reflect  with  indigna 
tion  on  what  men  call  military  glory  ;  but  at  the  next 
moment  I  felt  self-reproved,  as  I  too  commanded  an 
armed  vessel,  and  expected  to  go  out  in  a  few  days  to 
distress  the  enemies  of  my  country.  How  strange  and 
inconsistent  is  poor,  short-sighted  man,  condemning 
others  when  committing  the  same  offence  for  which  he 
would  denounce  his  neighbor. 

The  state  of  affairs  in  France  daily  grew  worse  and 
worse.  Lord  Wellington  was  following  Marshal  Soult 
day  after  day,  towards  Toulouse.  We  also  received  bad 
news  from  the  north,  that  the  Austrians  and  Prussians 
were  daily  advancing  on  Paris,  and  were  then  within 
twenty  leagues  of  that  city. 

Under  this  state  of  things,  I  deemed  it  most  prudent 


186  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

to  proceed  forthwith  to  La  Teste,  and  get  ready  for  sea 
as  soon  as  possible.  La  Teste  was  a  poor,  little  village, 
and  badly  supplied  with  articles  necessary  for  ship 
stores.  On  my  arrival  there,  I  found  no  other  ship  or 
vessel  lying  in  the  port,  and  no  stone  ballast  ;  I  wras 
therefore  compelled  to  take  in  sand  in  my  own  boat, 
and  fill  up  our  water  casks  and  take  them  on  board  also 
in  the  same  way.  We  had  no  biscuit  on  board,  and 
there  was  but  one  baker  of  any  consequence  in  the 
town.  I  hastened  to  this  important  character,  and 
agreed  to  take  all  the  bread  he  could  make  in  two  days, 
and  thus,  by  hurrying  and  driving,  I  got  ready  for  sea 
on  the  llth  of  March.  At  the  end  of  two  days  I  called 
on  the  baker  for  my  supply  of  bread,  when,  to  my  great 
mortification  and  disappointment,  I  could  get  only 
loaves  enougfc  to  fill  two  bags,  and  this,  for  a  vessel 
bound  to  La  Rochelle,  with  a  crew  of  thirty-five  in 
number,  was  certainly  a  very  small  allowance.  It  is 
true  I  had  salt  beef  and  pork  enough  on  board,  but  no 
vegetables  or  rice. 

On  the  llth,  in  the  evening,  by  letters  from  Bor 
deaux,  I  learned  that  the  day  before,  the  town  had  sur 
rendered  by  capitulation  to  a  portion  of  Lord  Welling 
ton's  army,  that  no  person  had  been  molested,  and  that 
perfect  good  order  was  observed  through  the  city.  All 
this  appeared  very  well  with  respect  to  Bordeaux,  but 
still  I  was  fearful  that  the  English  would  come  down 
and  take  La  Teste  before  I  could  get  to  sea.  The  next 
day,  March  12th,  the  wind  was  from  the  westward,  and 
the  pilot  would  not  take  my  vessel  to  sea.  He  said  that 
it  was  impossible  to  get  out ;  that  there  was  too  great  a 
swell  on  the  bar,  etc.  The  next  day  (the  13th),  the 
weather  was  clear  and  the  wind  fresh  at  N.N.E.  In  the 
morning  I  prevailed  on  the  pilot  to  come  on  board.  He 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  187 

told  me  that  the  tide  would  suit  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  if  there  should  not  be  too  much  sea  on 
the  bar  at  that  hour  he  would  take  the  vessel  out.  Ac 
cordingly,  at  four  o'clock,  I  requested  him  to  get  under 
way,  and.  be  ready  to  pass  the  bar  at  five.  I  now  found 
he  was  unwilling  to  go  out  at  all.  He  said:  "Cap 
tain,  if  we  should  succeed  in  getting  out,  it  would  be  im 
possible  to  land  me."  I  then  offered  him  double  pilot 
age,  told  him  I  was  fearful  the  English  would  come 
down  in  the  morning  and  make  a  prize  of  my  vessel, 
and  that  I  would  treble  his  pilotage,  and  pledge  him  my 
honor,  that  if  I  waited  a  week  outside,  I  would  land 
him  in  safety.  At  last  my  patience  was  exhausted,  and 
I  found  the  more  I  coaxed  and  strove  to  persuade  him 
to  go,  the  more  obstinate  he  became.  At  length  I  said  : 
"  If  you  will  not  go  to  sea,  pilot,  just  get  the  schooner 
under  way,  and  go  down  below  the  fort,  and  anchor 
there  within  the  bar.'7  To  this  proposition  he  consent 
ed.  While  getting  under  way,  I  went  below  and  put 
into  my  pocket  a  loaded  pistol,  and  again  returned  on 
deck.  We  soon  got  below  the  fort,  and  it  was  five 
o'clock,  precisely  the  hour  he  had  named  as  the  most 
suitable  to  pass  out  over  the  bar.  I  then  placed  the 
pistol  to  his  ear,  and  told  him  to  proceed  to  sea,  or  he 
was  a  dead  man  ;  and  that  if  the  schooner  took  the 
ground,  his  life  should  pay  the  forfeit.  The  poor  fellow 
was  terribly  frightened,  and  said  he  would  do  his  best ; 
and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  we  filled 
away,  we  were  fairly  over  and  outside  of  this  formida 
ble  bar.  I  then  discharged  the  pistol,  and  assured ^  the 
pilot  I  would  do  him  no  harm,  and  that  I  would  wait  a 
week,  if  it  was  necessary,  for  good  weather  to  land 
him  in  safety.  He  now  appeared  more  tranquil  and 
composed,  but  could  not  refrain  from  talking  occasion- 


188  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [18J4. 

ally  of  his  poor  wife  and  children,  and  seemed  to  have 
a  lurking  fear  that  I  would  carry  him  to  America. 

T  stood  off  and  on  during  the  night,  and  in  the  morn 
ing,  March  14th,  the  wind  was  light  off-shore,  from  the 
eastward  ;  as  the  sea  was  smooth,  I  stood  close  in  to  the 
beach,  and  got  our  boat  ready  to  land  the  pilot.  I  sent 
by  him  several  letters  to  my  friends,  and  an  order  on 
my  consignees,  for  a  considerable  sum  over  and  above 
his  regular  pilotage,  notwithstanding  I  had  compelled 
him  to  take  my  vessel  to  sea.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  my  second  officer,  with  four  men,  took  Mr. 
Pilot  on  shore.  I  gave  the  officer  of  the  boat  positive 
orders  to  back  the  boat  stern  on  to  the  shore,  and  let 
the  pilot  jump  out  whenever  he  could  do  so  with  safety. 
I  took  a  spy-glass,  and  had  the  pleasure  to  see  the  man 
land,  and  scamper  up  the  beach.  The  boat  soon  return 
ed,  and  was  hoisted  on  board,  when  we  made  sail  and 
stood  off  in  a  N".W.  direction.*  The  wind  was  light 
from  the  eastward,  and  the  weather  fine  and  clear.  Dur 
ing  the  night  we  had  not  much  wind,  and  of  course 
made  but  little  progress. 

At  daylight,  March  15th,  1814,  saw  a  large  ship  on 
our  weather  quarter.  I  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a 
frigate,  distant  about  two  miles.  We  were  now  in 
a  very  unpleasant  position,  early  in  the  morning  with  a 
frigate  dead  to  windward.  I  manoeuvred  for  some  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  in  hopes  of  drawing  him  down  to  lee 
ward,  so  that  I  should  be  able  to  weather  him  on  one 
tack  or  the  other.  This  was  often  done  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  war,  with  American  schooners,  for  if 
the  pilot-boats  could  succeed  in  getting  the  enemy  under 

*  For  a  more  detailed  account  of  this  cruise,  and  the  political  state  of 
France  at  that  period,  the  reader  will  please  see  Coggeshall's  Voyages,  pub 
lished  in  1853. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    FRIVATEERS.  189 

their  lee,  they  would  laugh  at  their  adversary.  This 
manoeuvre  however  did  not  succeed,  he  only  kept  off 
four  or  six  points,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  thought  it 
impossible  for  me  to  elude  his  grasp.  All  this  time  I 
was  losing  ground,  and  the  ship  not  more  than  two  gun 
shots  to  windward. 

I  held  a  short  consultation  with  my  officers  on  the 
subject  of  attempting  to  get  to  windward  (which  would 
involve  our  receiving  a  broadside),  or  of  running  off  to 
leoward.  They  all  thought  it  best  to  ply  to  windward, 
and  receive  his  fire.  I  stated  that  we  should  have  to 
pass  him  within  pistol-shot,  and  the  probability  was  that 
he  would  shoot  away  some  of  our  spars,  in  which  case 
we  should  inevitably  be  captured.  I  knew  the  schooner 
sailed  very  fast  off  the  wind,  and  I  thought  the  chance 
of  escape  better  to  run  to  leewa'rd.  I  accordingly  gave 
orders  to  get  the  square-sail  and  studding-sails  all  ready 
to  run  up  at  the  same  moment ;  and  thus  when  every 
thing  was  prepared,  the  helm  was  put  up, 'and  every 
square-sail  set  in  a  moment. 

The  frigate,  not  dreaming  of  my  running  to  leeward, 
was  unprepared  to  chase  off  the  wind,  and  I  should  think 
it  was  at  least  five  minutes  before  she  had  a  studding-sail 
set,  so  that  I  gained  about  a  mile  at  the  commencement 
of  the  chase.  The  wind  was  light  from  the  E.N.B.,  and 
the  weather  very  fine.  I  ordered  holes  to  be  bored  in 
all  the  water-casks  except  four,  and  the  water  pumped 
into  buckets  to  wet  the  sails  ;  also,  to  throw  overboard 
sand  ballast,  to  lighten  the  schooner.  After  this  was 
done,  we  began  to  draw  away  from  the  frigate,  so  that  at 
noon,  I  had  gained  about  eight  or  ten  miles  on  the  chase. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon  he  was  nearly  out  of  sight,  and 
appeared  like  a  speck  on  the  water.  We  had  now  time 
to  look  into  our  own  situation,  when  to  my  great  regret, 


190  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

in  lieu  of  having  four  casks  of  water,  the  carpenter,  in 
the  confusion,  had  only  left  two  ;  and  as  the  wind  fresh 
ened,  I  found  the  schooner  so  light  that  it  was  unsafe  to 
haul  upon  the  wind. 

Seafaring  men  will  appreciate  what  was  my  unfortu 
nate  situation.  Thus  wide  off  to  sea  in  the  Bay  of  Bis 
cay,  in  a  light  vessel,  with  scarcely  ballast  enough  to  stand 
upon  her  bottom,  with  a  crew  of  twenty-five  men,  and  only 
two  casks  of  fresh  water  and  a  few  loaves  of  soft  bread. 

The  wind  was  light  during  the  night,  and  towards 
morning  it  became  almost  cairn.  At  daylight,  to  our 
unspeakable  joy,  we  were  in  the  midst  of  a  small  fleet 
of  merchant  ships,  They  had  left  England  under  convoy  of 
of  a  frigate  and  a  sloop-of-war,  and  had  separated  in  a  gale 
of  wind  a  few  days  before  I  fell  in  with  them,  This  little 
fleet  was  bound  to  St.  Sebastian,  and  many  of  them  were 
loaded  with  provisions  for  the  British  army.  The  first 
one  I  captured  was  a  brig,  principally  laden  with  provi 
sions.  After  taking  possession,  I  agreed  with  the  cap 
tain,  that,  if  he  would  assist  me  with  his  boats  and  men 
to  transport  his  cargo  from  his  vessel  to  my  schooner,  I 
would  let  him  go  ;  otherwise  I  would  take  what  I  want 
ed  and  destroy  his  brig.  Of  course  he  was  glad  to  make 
the  best  of  a  bad  bargain  ;  and  thus  with  the  boats  of 
both  vessels,  in  two  hours  we  had  provisions  enough  for 
a  three  month's  cruise.  His  cabin  was  filled  with*  bags 
of  hard  biscuit,  the  staff  of  life,  which  we  took  first,  and 
then  got  a  fine  supply  of  butter,  hams,  cheese,  potatoes, 
porter,  etc.,  and  last,  though  not  least,  six  casks  of  fresh 
water.  After  this  was  done,  the  captain  asked  me  if  I 
would  make  him  a  present  of  the  brig  and  the  residue 
of  the  cargo,  for  his  own  private  account,  to  which  I 
willingly  agreed,  in  consideration  of  the  assistance  I  had 
received  from  him  and  his  men. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  191 

I  showed  him  my  commission  from  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  authorizing  me  to  take,  burn,  sink, 
or  destroy  our  common  enemy,  and  satisfied  him  that  he 
was  a  lawful  prize  to  my  vessel.  I  then  gave  him  a  cer 
tificate,  stating  that  though  his  brig  was  a  lawful  prize, 
I  voluntarily  gave  her  to  him  as  a  present.  (This,  of 
course,  was  only  a  piece  of  torn-foolery,  but  it  pleased 
the  captain,  and  we  parted  good  friends). 

This  was  on  the  16th  of  March,  the  day  after  my  es 
cape  from  the  British  frigate. 

I  had  now  got  as  much  water  and  provisions  as  I 
wanted,  and  made  sail  for  a  ship  and  two  brigs,  a  mile 
or  two  off  on  our  lee  beam.  Although  the  wind  was 
very  light,  I  soon  took  all  three  of  them,  and  made  the 
same  agreement  with  them  as  with  the  other  captain, 
that  if  they  would  assist  me  with  all  their  boats  and  men 
to  load  my  schooner,  with  such  part  of  their  cargo  as 
best  suited  me,  I  would  let  them  go,  otherwise  I  would 
send  them  into  port  as  prizes,  or  destroy  their  vessels. 
This  was  a  bitter  pill,  but  they  had  the  choice  of  two 
evils,  and  of  course,  complied  with  my  request.  •  We 
soon  commenced  taking  out  of  these  prizes  all  sorts  of 
stores  designed  for  the  British  army,  viz.,  officer's  and 
soldier's  clothing,  cocked  hats,  epaulettes,  small  arms, 
instruments  of  music,  etc.  Independent  of  these  warlike 
stores,  we  also  took  a  considerable  quantity  of  English 
cloths,  and  various  other  articles  of  merchandise.  A 
fresh  breeze  sprung  up  from  the  S.W.,  and  the  weather 
became  dark  and  rainy,  which  rendered  it  difficult  to  con 
tinue  transporting  any  more  goods  from  the  prizes  to 
our  schooner.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  large 
ship  hove  in  sight  to  windward.  From  aloft,  with  a  spy 
glass,  I  clearly  made  her  out  to  be  the  same  frigate  that 
had  chased  me  the  day  before.  I  recognized  her  from 


192  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

the  circumstance  of  her  having  a  white  jib  ;  all  the 
sails  were  dark  colored  except  this  jib,  which  was 
bleached. 

We  of  course  cleared  the  decks,  and  got  ready  for 
another  trial  of  speed,  but  as  my  schooner  was  now  in 
good  trim,  and  night  coming  on,  I  had  no  doubt  of 
dodging  him  in  the  dark.  He  came  rapidly  down,  within 
five  or  six  miles  of  us,  when  I  Tan  near  my  prizes,  and 
ordered  them  all  to  hoist  lanterns.  None  of  them  up  to 
this  time  had  seen  the  frigate,  and  thus,  while  the  lan 
terns  showed  their  positions,  I  hauled  off  silently  in  the 
dark.  Yery  soon  after  this,  I  heard  the  frigate  firing  at 
'his  unfortunate  countrymen,  while  we  were  partaking 
of  an  excellent  supper  at  their  expense. 

The  next  day,  March  17th,  it  was  dark  and  rainy, 
with  strong  gales  from  the  S.W.  ;  saw  nothing.  Stood 
to  the  northward,  under  easy  sail,  waiting  for  better 
weather,  to  complete  loading  my  little  schooner  with 
something  valuable  from  another  prize. 

I  would  here  remark,  that  small  guns,  six  or  nine- 
pounders,  are  of  little  or  no  use  on  board  of  small  ves 
sels  ;  for  if  the  sea  is  rough,  they  cannot  be  used  at  all. 
I  have  found  them  of  no  service,  but  rather  in  the  way. 
My  only  dependance  was  on  my  eighteen-pounder, 
mounted  amidships,  on  a  pivot.  This  gun  I  could  use 
in  almost  any  weather.  With  it,  and  forty  small  arms, 
I  found  no  difficulty  in  capturing  merchant  ships.  I  se 
lected  ten  of  the  largest  and  strongest  men  on  board  to 
work  the  centre  gun.  One  of  them  was  a  huge  black 
man,  about  six  feet  six  inches  in  height,  and  large  in 
proportion.  To  him  I  gave  the  command  of  the  gun. 
Although  so  powerful  a  man,  he  was  the  best  natuicd 
fellow  in  the  world,  and  a  general  favorite,  both  with 
officers  and  men. 


IGliJ  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  19^ 

March  18th. — Still  a  continuation  of  bad  wea 
ther,  with  a  strong  gale  to  the  westward.  At 
four  P.M.,  saw  ,a  frigate  and  a  brig  of  war  off  my  lee 
beam,  distant  about  five  miles.  The}7  made  sail  in  chase, 
but  under  my  three  lower  sails,  mainsail,  foresail,  anr 
jib,  I  had  no  fear  of  them.  I  showed  my  ensign  for  ;: 
few  moments,  and  then  plied  to  windward,  making  short 
tacks,  and  in  a  few  hours  they  gave  up  the  chase,  when 
I  again  pursued  my  course  to  the  northward,  under  easy 
sail.  Next  day,  March  19th,  the  wind  moderated,  bu( 
still  there  was  a  very  high  sea,  and  unpleasant  wea 
ther. 

March  %Qth. — Moderate  breezes  from  the  westward,  and 
unpleasant  weather.  This  day  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
to  land  myself  somewhere  on  the  coast  of  France,  and  to 
send  my  vessel  home,  under  the  command  of  my  first 
officer,  Mr.  Samuel  Nichols  ;  and  on  examination  of  a 
chart  of  the  coast,  I  concluded  to  run  for  1'Ile  Dieu. 
and  land  there.  Accordingly  I  shaped  my  course  for 
the  Island,  and  without  meeting  with  any  incident  worth 
relating,  made  the  land  on  the  23d  of  March,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  at  six  ditto,  landed  on  the 
Island  in  my  own  boat.  It  soon  became  dark,  and  I 
was  obliged  to  remain  on  shore,  with  my  boat's  crew, 
all  night. 

I  took  with  me  my  clearance  and  other  papers  from 
Bordeaux,  with  sundry  newspapers,  and  was  well  re 
ceived  by  the  Governor  and  Commissary  of  Ma 
rine. 

March  24^. — At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  although 
the  weather  was  thick  and  rainy,  and  a  strong  breeze 
from  the  S.W.,  I  sent  my  boat  on  board  the  schooner 
with  a  pilot,  with  orders  to  get  the  vessel  into  the  roads, 
near  the  town,  which  is  situated  on  the  N.E.  end  of 
13 


194  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

the  Island.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  schooner 
came  directly  off  the  town,  close  in  within  the  fort, 
where  with  our  own  boat,  we  took  on  board  six  casks 
of  fresh  water,  some  fresh  provisions,  and  sundry  small 
stores.  I  then  obtained  liberty  from  the  public  author 
ities  to  dispatch  my  vessel  to  the  United  States. 

At  live  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  *>f  March  24th,  1814, 
1  repaired  on  board  in  a  shore  boat,  and  wrote  a  few 
hasty  letters  to  my  friends  in  the  United  States.  After 
making  a  short  address  to  my  officers  and  men,  I  resign 
ed  the  command  to  Mr.  Samuel  Nichols,  my  first-lieu 
tenant,  and  promoted  my  brother,  Mr.  Charles  Cogges- 
hall,  who  was  second-lieutenant,  to  be  first-lieutenant, 
directing  them  to  proceed  directly  to  the  United  States. 
At  the  same  time,  I  requested  the  captain  to  fill  the 
schooner  with  whatever  valuable  goods  he  should  be  en 
abled  to  take  from  the  enemy  on  his  return  passage 
home.  I  then  returned  on  shore,  with  a  heavy  heart  at 
parting  with  my  little  band  of  brave  and  faithful  fol 
lowers. 

The  schooner  was  soon  out  of  sight,  as  she  stood 
round  to  the  south  end  of  the  island.  And  here  I 
should  be  doing  injustice  to  the  memory  of  these  brave 
men,  did  I  not  give  my  feeble  testimony  to  their  good 
conduct,  from  the  time  we  left  Charleston  until  parting 
with  them  at  1'Ile  Dieu.  I  never  saw  one  of  them  in 
toxicated  in  the  slightest  degree,  nor  did  I  ever  see  one 
of  them  ill-treat  a  prisoner,  or  attempt  to  plunder  the 
smallest  article.  In  a  word,  from  the  first-lieutenant  to 
the  smallest  boy  on  board,  they  were  faithful,  good,  and 
true  men,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief, 
were  all  born  and  bred  in  the  United  States. 

After  my  schooner  sailed,  I  had  leisure  to  look  at  the 
island,  which  lies  in  latitude  46°  42'  north,  longitude 


1814  J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  195 

2°  27'  west.  It  is  five  leagues  from  the  continent,  di 
rectly  opposite  St.  Gilles,  and  is  of  a  moderate  height, 
about  three  miles  long,  and  one  and  a  half  broad.  It 
numbers  about  two  thousand  three  hundred  souls,  and 
is  principally  supported  by  the  fishing  business.  It  is 
defended  by  a  pretty  strong  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor,  with  a  garrison  of  about  three  hundred  men 
Its  produce  is  not  sufficient  for  its  own  support ;  on  the 
contrary,  I  was  told  by  several  of  the  inhabitants  that  it 
only  yields  about  one  quarter  part  of  the  breadstuffs 
that  are  consumed  by  its  inhabitants.  It  has  a  snug  lit 
tle  harbor,  but  only  accessible  to  small  vessels  of  a  light 
draft  of  water.  The  principal  town  is  rather  pleasant, 
and  many  of  the  houses  are  commodious  and  well 
built. 

.   This  little  island  has  become  interesting  from  its  his 
torical  association. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1795,  an  English  squadron 
brought  here  a  Bourbon  prince  and  several  thousand 
French  emigrants  from  England,  to  join  the  royal  party 
of  La  Yendde  ;  and  after  the  fleet  of  men-of-war  and 
transports  had  remained  here  until  about  the  15th  of 
November,  the  army  debarked  at  St.  Gilles,  when  the 
fleet  returned  to  England.* 

When  I  landed  at  Tile  Dieu,  I  took  with  me,  as  one 
of  the  boat's  crew,  the  large  black  man,  Philip.  I  was 
astonished  to  see  the  curiosity  expressed  here  at  the 
sight  of  a  negro.  He  was  followed  at  every  step  by  a 
crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children,  all  desirous  to 
see  a  black  man  ;  and  I  soon  received  a  pressing 
message  from  the  Governor's  lady  to  see  him.  I 
accordingly  took  Philip  with  me,  and  repaired  to 
the  residence  of  the  Governor,  where  were  assem- 

*  See  Thiers's  History  of. the  French  Revolution. 


196  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

bled  all  the  first  ladies  of  the  island.  They  had  a 
great  many  questions  to  ask  about  him,  respecting  the 
place  of  his  birth,  whether  he  was  kind  and  good- 
natured,  etc.  When  their  curiosity  was  gratified,  the 
fellow  begged  of  me  as  a  favor  to  be  allowed  to  go  on 
board,  as  he  did  not  like  to  be  exhibited  as  a  show. 
This  request  I  readily  granted,  telling  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  that  I  had  an  Indian  on  board,  and  that  I 
would  send  for  him.  The  Indian  came  directly  on 
shore,  but,  to  my  surprise,  there  appeared  but  little  cu 
riosity  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  to  see  the  savage. 
This  island  had  been,  as  it  were,  shut  out  from  the  rest 
of  the  world  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  with  little 
or  no  commerce  or  communication  with  other  nations, 
and  it  is  therefore  highly  probable  that  very  few  of  its 
inhabitants  had  ever  seen  a  negro,  and  were,  of  course, 
eager  to  behold  one. 

L'lle  Dieu,  March  25th,  1814.— Throughout  this  day 
we  had  light  winds  from  the  westward,  and  clear,  plea 
sant  weather.  I  got  a  passport  from  the  Commissary  of 
Marine,  and  was  now  only  waiting  for  a  passage  to  St. 
Gilles. 

March  26th. — Light  winds  from  the  southward,  with 
rain  during  the  whole  day  ;  still  waiting  an  opportunity 
to  leave  the  island  for  the  continent, 

March  27th. — Throughout  this  day  pleasant  breezes 
from  the  N.jST.E.,  and  fine  weather.  At  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning  I  embarked  on  board  the  chasse-maree  Ma 
riana,  Captain  Brumel,  and  after  a  pleasant  passage  of 
three  hours,  arrived  safe  at  St.  Gilles — a  small  seaport 
town  on  the  west  coast  of  France,  lying  in  latitude  46° 
40'  North,  longitude  1°  51'  West.  It  is  an  inconsider 
able  place,  and  only  navigable  for  small  vessels. 

At  two  o'clock  in   the  afternoon  I  left  this  place,  on 


1814. J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  197 

horseback,  for  Sables  d'Olonne,  at  which  place  I  arrived 
at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  put  up  for  the  night. 
This  is  a  pleasant  little  seaport  town,  about  five  leagues 
from  St.  G-illes. 

March  28th. — Fresh  breezes  from  the  S.E.,  and 
cloudy  weather  throughout  this  day.  At  ten  o'clock  this 
morning,  left  this  place  with  the  courier,  for  Napoleon, 
where  I  arrived  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  having 
travelled  seven  leagues  in  a  miserable  vehicle. 

Napoleon  is  a  newly-built  town,  with  several  fine 
houses,  and  broad  streets.  I  had  now  got  upon  the 
great  public  road,  and  after  agreeing  to  pay  sixty  francs 
for  my  passage  to  La  Rochelle,  left  Napoleon  in  the 
same  vehicle,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  At  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  arrived  at  the  small  village 
of  Maria,  and,  after  having  traveled  about  five  leagues, 
put  up  here  for  the  night. 

March  29th. — We  left  Maria  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  traveled  on  the  great  public  road.  We 
passed  through  Lucan,  and  several  other  towns  and  vil 
lages,  and  arrived  at  La  Rochelle  (eighteen  leagues  from 
Napoleon),  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day. 

Here  I  put  up  at  the  Hotel  des  Ambassadeurs,  where  I 
was  delighted  to  meet  with  many  of  my  countrymen, 
and  once  more  to  hear  the  sweet  sound  of  my  native 
language.  It  was  at  this  place  that  I  became  acquainted 
with  Captain  Maffet  of  the  brig  Rattlesnake.  He  had 
recently  arrived  from  his  northern  cruise,  and  had  made 
many  captures.  He  informed  me  that  not  long  before 
he  came  into  this  port,  he  captured  the  British  trans 
port-ship  Mary,  from  Sicily  bound  to  England,  with 
some  French  prisoners  on  board.  There  were  also  seve 
ral  English  Army  officers  and  soldiers,  sent  to  guard  them. 


198  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

The  Mary  had  several  carriage  guns,  with  musketry, 
etc.  The  Captain  of  the  transport  sustained  an  action 
with  the  Rattlesnake  for  about  twenty  minutes,  when 
himself  and  two  seamen  being  killed,  and  three  others 
wounded,  the  ship  struck  her  colors,  and  was  ordered 
into  a  port  in  France. 

The  Rattlesnake  had  not  a  man  killed,  and  but  one 
wounded.  That  was  his  marine  officer,  a  handsome 
young  man  belonging  to  New  York,  who  was  shot  in 
one  of  his  legs.  He  was  here  taken  to  the  hospital.  He 
had  the  best  medical  aid,  and  was  tenderly  nursed  by 
the  Sisters  of  Charity. 

He  was  advised  by  surgical  men  to  have  the  limb 
amputated,  and  was  warned  of  the  danger  of  delay.  He 
would  not  consent,  however,  to  the  operation,  giving  as 
a  reason  that  it  would  spoil  his  dancing.  The  good  Sis 
ters,  seeing  the  young  man  daily  become  weaker  and 
weaker,  were  extremely  anxious  that  he  should  become 
a  Christian,  (meaning  a  Catholic). 

To  gratify  them,  he  consented,  at  least  in  appearance. 
They  were  rejoiced,  thinking  no  doubt,  they  had  been 
the  means  of  saving  the  soul  of  a  heretic. 

The  poor  fellow  lingered  a  few  weeks  and  died.  He 
was  followed  to  the  grave  by  all  the  Americans  in  the 
place. 

I  subsequently  learned,  that  Captain  MafFet's  prize- 
ship  Mary,  was  recaptured,  and  sent  to  England.  I  saw 
it  stated  afterwards  in  the  English  papers,  that  the  offi 
cers  on  board  the  Mary  on  their  arrival  in  England, 
greatly  extolled  the  generous  conduct  of  Captain  Maffet, 
in  giving  them  all  their  personal  property.  Also,  for  his 
kind  and  humane  treatment  of  them,  and  of  all  his 
other  prisoners. 

At  this   period  there  were  lying  in  this  port  three 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  199 

American  vessels  beside  the  Rattlesnake,  viz.,  the  let- 
ter-of-marque  brig  Ida,  of  -Boston,  the  schooner  Deca- 
tur,  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  merchant  brig  belonging  tv 
New  York,  laid  up  here  during  the  war. 

There  was  lying  in  La  Rochelle  roads  an  English  fleet, 
commanded  b}^  Admiral  Lord  Keith,  in  the  Queen  Char 
lotte.  Beside  the  Admiral's  ship,  there  were  four  other 
line-of-battle  ships,  several  frigates,  and  sundry  brigs 
and  schooners-of-war.  The  brigs  and  schooners  were 
anchored  close  in  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  to  block 
ade  the  Americans,  and  also  to  prevent  any  vessel; 
from  going  in  or  coming  out  of  the  port. 

For  several  days  after  my  arrival  at  La  Rochelle  we 
were  without  news  from  Paris,  as  all  communication 
had  been  cut  off,  and  not  a  diligence  was  allowed  to  run 
on  the  road  between  the  two  cities.  The  town  was 
placed  in  a  very  anxious  state  of  suspense.  Everybody 
knew  that  the  allied  armies  were  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Paris,  and  no  one  dared  to  speak  a  syllable  on  the 
subject.  At  this  time  the  military  officers  were  seen 
conversing  with  each  other  in  small  groups,  and  appear 
ed  to  be  the  only  men  that  the  government  could  rely 
upon.  At  length,  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1814,  news  ar 
rived  in  town  that  Paris  had  been  taken  by  the  allie  1 
armies  on  the  30th  ultimo.  The  next  day  official  or 
ders  arrived  from  that  city  proclaiming  the  change  of 
government.  In  the  capitulation,  Bonaparte  was  sent 
to  Elba,  and  Louis  XVIII.  acknowledged  King  of 
France. 

In  a  few  minutes  some  one  mounted  a  white  cockade, 
and  very  soon  after  it  became  general ;  and  now  it 
was  "Vive  le  roi !  "  "  Vive  Louis  XVIII.!"  Although 
at  that  time  I  was  no  friend  of  the  emperor,  I  was  ab 
solutely  disgusted  with  several  poor  devils  who,  a  few 


200  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

days  before  this  great  event,  had  extolled  "  Le  Grand 
Empereur"  up  to  the  skies,  and  now  turned  against 
him,  and  called  him  "  Le  Prince  des  Tyrants !" 
This  implication  does  not  apply  at  all  to  the  military, 
nor  to  the  respectable  part  of  the  inhabitants,  but  to 
some  hotel  keepers  and  other  mean-spirited  turncoats, 
such  as  infest  every  part  of  the  globe. 

The  Chasse-Mare'e,  that  I  chartered  in  Bordeaux  to 
bring  to  this  place  100  casks  of  wine  and  50  pipes  of 
brandy,  I  found  lying  here  waiting  orders  with  respect 
to  its  disposition. 

The  Ida  was  a  fine  coppered  brig  of  272  tons  burden, 
mounting  eight  long  nine  and  twelve-pounders,  with  a 
complement  of  thirty-five  men.  She  was  in  ballast,  and 
required  freight.  I  soon  struck  a  bargain  with  Captain 
Mantor  to  take  the  wine  and  brandy  at  a  low  freight, 
for  Boston — say  at  $45  per  ton. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  April,  Captain  Maffet, 
in  the  Rattlesnake,  Captain  Mantor,  in  the  Ida,  and 
Captain  Brown  in  the  Commodore  Decatur,  all  sailed 
from  this  place.  They  ran  down  on  the  north  side  of 
Tile  de  Re,  namely  between  the  island  and  the  main 
land.  In  this  passage  they  met  an  English  man-of-war 
brig  and  a  schooner  in  company,  and  were  all  driven 
back. 

The  Rattlesnake  and  the  Commodore  Decatur  return 
ed  into  port  again.  The  Ida  lay- to  off  the  east  end  of 
the  island  long  enough  to  discharge  his  pilot,  and  then 
made  a  bold  dash  down  the  south  side  of  the  island,  in 
plain  sight  of  the  British  fleet  that  was  lying  at  anchor 
in  the  Roads,  off  La  Rochelle. 

I  will  here  digress  from  the  thread  of  my  narrative, 
to  insert  the  two  following  letters.  As  they  have  an 
intimate  connection  with  this  subject,  I  think  it  is  bet- 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS  201 

ter  to  place  them  here  than  to  leave  them  to  a  later 
date. 

11  Captain  Jeremiah  Mant or,  formerly  of  the  brig  Ida,  of 

Boston  : 

"DEAR  SIR  :  Upon  the  score  of  old  acquaintance,  I 
herewith  take  the  liberty  of  writing  to  you  on  the  sub 
ject  of  the  scenes  through  which  we  passed  in  our  late 
war  with  England,  in  the  years  1812,  1813,  arid  1814. 
I  have  been  for  several  months  writing  a  narrative  of 
all  the  voyages  I  ever  made,  namely,  from  the  year 
1798,  until  I  retired  from  the  sea,  in  1841. 

"Now,  my  dear  sir,  you  doubtless  recollect  that  I 
commanded  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  David  Porter, 
of  New  York,  and  that  after  I  sent  my  vessel  home 
from  off  Tile  Dieu,  coast  of  France,  1  went  on  to  La 
Rochelle,  where  we  met  on  the  29th  of  March,  1814  ; 
and  you  will  also  recollect  that  I  shipped  by  you  in  the 
brig  Ida,  100  casks  of  wine  and  50  pipes  of  brandy 
for  Boston.  I  had  no  insurance  on  this  property,  and 
was,  of  course,  extremely  anxious  for  your  safety.  I  re 
collect  that  you  sailed  from  La  Rochelle  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th  of  April,  in  company  with  the  privateer  brig 
Rattlesnake,  Captain  Maffet,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
letter-of-marque  schooner  Commodore  Decatur,  Captain 
Brown,  also  of  Philadelphia,  and  that  you  all  three  ran 
down  between  Tile  de  Re  and  the  main-land,  and  in  that 
passage'  you  met  an  English  man-of-war  brig  with  a 
schooner  in  company,  sent  there  to  guard  and  block  up 
the  passage,  and  that  you  were  all  driven  back.  The 
Rattlesnake  and  Commodore  Decatur  returned  into  port 
again,  and  off  the  east  end  of  1'Ile  de  Re  you  squared 
away  and  dashed  down  the  south  side  of  the  island,  and 
had  to  pass  through  the  British  fleet.  At  that  time 


202  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

there  lay  at  anchor  in  the  roads  off  La  Rochelle  the 
Queen  Charlotte,  and  four  ships  of  the  line.  I  under 
stood  that  one  of  these  line-of-battle  ships  slipped  her 
cables  and  made  sail  in  pursuit  of  your  brig.  Although 
I  was  at  the  time  of  your  sailing  standing  on  the  quay 
at  La  Rochelle,  I  still  have  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  all 
that  passed.  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  you  would  do  me 
a  great  favor  by  giving  me  a  detailed  account  of  all  you 
can  recollect  of  your  marvellous  escape — namely,  the 
length  of  your  passage  home,  the  number  of  shot  fired 
at  you  during  the  chase,  and  whether  they  threw  more 
than  one  shot  on  board  of  your  brig,  and  any  other  in 
cident  you  can  call  to  mind,  will  be  gratefully  received. 

Your  bravery  and  good  conduct  in  evading  the  close 
pursuit  of  so  many  ships-of-war,  ought  to  be  published 
to  the  world.  You  certainly  out-manoeuvred  and  out 
sailed  them  all,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  your  prompt  de 
cision  and  gallant  conduct  saved  the  whole  of  the  pro 
perty  intrusted  to  you. 

For  this  and  many  other  kind  favors,  I  remain  your 
obliged  and  very  grateful  friend, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL." 

New  York,  January  5th,  1846. 


WEST  TISBURY,  MASS. 
MARTHA'S  VINEYARD,  Jan.  17^r1846. 

Capt.  George  Coggeshall  : 

"  DEAR  SIR  : — I  received  your  letter  of  the  5th  inst., 
and  am  happy  to  hear  from  one  of  my  old  acquaintances. 
I  often  think  of  them  and  the  scenes  I  have  passed 
through  during  the  years  T  have  spent  on  the  ocean. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  203 

The  voyage  you  speak  of  is  well  remembered.  It  would 
not  be  possible,  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years,  for  me 
to  give  you  a  correct  account  of  all  my  voyages  during 
the  late  war,  but  I  will  write  you  the  particulars  of  that 
passage  home,  and  you  can  make  what  use  of  it  you 
think  proper. 

I  left  La  Rochelle  in  company  with  the  Rattlesnake 
and  Commodore  Decatur,  and  run  out  north  of  Tile  de  Re, 
with  a  fair  wind.  Saw  two  men-of-war  ahead,  hauled 
our  wind  and  stood  back  to  the  east  end  of  File  de  Re. 
I  saw  there  was  a  risk  in  returning  again  into  port,  and 
might  be  taken  there  ;  so  I  determined  at  once  to  make  a 
bold  push,  discharged  my  pilot,  and  made  all  sail  to  pass 
the  south  end  of  the  Island.  I  saw  in  a  moment  several 
of  the  men-of-war  under  way  upon  my  lee  quarter.  I 
was  looking  out  for  ships  ahead,  and  as  I  opened  the 
Island,  a  schooner  came  down  on  my  starboard  side 
within  musket-shot  ;  sl!e  gave  me  a  broadside  and  three 
cheers,  shot  away  my  studding-sail  boom  and  main-stay, 
and  some  small  rigging.  I  soon  passed  her,  but  the  men- 
of-war  were  coming  up  under  my  lee,  and  the  shot 
flew  thick. 

I  soon  saw  another  ship  bearing  down  upon  my  star 
board  side.  There  was  but  one  way  to  escape,  which 
was,  up  helm,  and  bring  all  astern,  or  sink  ;  this  was 
quickly  done,  and  we  crossed  the  bows  of  the  head 
ship  so  near  that  I  could  hear  them  halloo  on  board 
plainly. 

The  shot  went  most  of  it  over  me  :  one  thirty-two 
pounder  raked  my  deck  and  lodged  in  the  bows,  one 
cut  my  anchor  off  the  bows  and  cut  the  chains  at  the 
same  moment.  I  cut  the  cable  and  let  the  anchor  go. 
My  crew  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  deck,  and 
in  the  hold  heaving  out  ballast,  which  saved  many  lives. 


204  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

The  vessels  continued  the  chase  until  eleven  at  night, 
after  that  I  saw  no  more  of  them.  I  think  there  was  as 
many  as  eight  or  ten  in  pursuit  of  me.  I  stood  out  to 
sea,  and  at  daylight  saw  two  frigates  right  ahead,  and 
had  just  time  to  haul  upon  the  wind,  not  knowing  but 
that  I  should  upset,  as  I  had  lightened  the  brig  so  much 
that  night — I  had  thrown  overboard  six  nine-pounders 
during  the  night,  and  soon  found  her  ready  for  another 
chase. 

At  dark  I  had  gained  four  or  five  miles  upon  them  ; 
one  was  on  my  lee  quarter,  and  the  other  astern.  I  was 
headed  into  the  bay,  and  dare  not  risk  to  get  before  the 
wind. 

About  nine  P.M.  the  shutter  of  the  binnacle  fell,  and 
they  saw  my  light.  They  made  signals  one  to  the  other, 
and  that  showed  me  where  they  were.  1  immediately 
bore  up  before  the  wind,  and  at  daylight  saw  them  hull 
down.  I  now  had  once  more  the  wide  ocean,  but  my 
brig  was  light,  which  made  my  passage  rather  long.  I 
think  it  was  twenty-six  days. 

Nothing  more  worth  relating  took  place  during  our 
passage.  I  made  two  voyages  to  France,  and  one  to 
New  Orleans  in  the  war,  and  passed  through  many 
scenes  which  often  come  to  my  mind,  now  I  have  sat 
down  in  my  old  age  to  think  of  the  many  dangers  and 
escapes  that  I  have  passed  through. 

I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  you  at  any  time, 
Yours  with  respect, 

JEREMIAH  MANTOR. 

I  will  now  continue  my  narrative,  and  return  to  the 
9th  of  April,  1814.  After  the  Ida  had  made  her  escape, 
and  the  Rattlesnake  and  Commodore  Decatur  returned 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  205 

into  port,  these  two  vessels  were  watched  and  blockaded 
with  more  vigilance  than  ever.  The  English  men-of- 
war  anchored  nearer  the  port,  while  a  brig  and  a 
schooner  were  almost  constantly  within  gun-shot  of  the 
harbor.  Tranquillity  having  been  restored  in  Paris,  all 
the  wheels  of  government  began  to  move  in  a  more  re 
gular  train  ;  the  mails  and  diligences  commenced  run 
ning  throughout  the  kingdom  as  formerly. 

In  a  few  days  I  settled  all  my  business,  and  left  this 
place  in  the  diligence  for  Bordeaux,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1814,  passing  through  Rochefort  and  several  other  towns 
lying  on  the  great  public  road,  and  on  the  14th,  two 
days  after  leaving  La  Rochelle,  I  once  more  had  the 
pleasure  to  return  in  safety  to  Bordeaux.  Here  I  found 
every  thing  tranquil,  and  although  the  city  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  English,  there  was  no  noise  or  con 
fusion. 

The  theatres  were  all  open  as  usual,  and  well  sup 
ported.  In  lieu  of  seeing  French  troops  and  sentinels 
about  the  town,  there  were  English  and  Portuguese 
soldiers  stationed  at  every  military  post. 

I  found  my  business  had  been  well  managed  by  my 
good  friends  Messrs.  Brim  freres  ;  a  portion  of  my 
freight  had  been  collected,  and  every  thing  was  in  a  suc 
cessful  train.  The  English  had  thus  far,  respected  pri 
vate  persons  and  private  property. 

There  were  no  American  vessels  here  ;  nearly  all  of 
them  had  left  this  country.  There  were  a  few  however 
in  the  northern  ports,  namely,  three  blockaded  at  La 
Rochelle  as  before  stated.  The  letter-of-marque  schooner 
Kemp,  Captain  Jacobs  of  Baltimore,  was  lying  at 
Nantes,  and  the  schooners  Lion  and  Spencer  at  L'Orient. 
These  were  about  all  the  American  vessels  left  in  the 
Western  ports  of  France.  There  were  several  American 


206  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  |1814 

gentlemen,  supercargoes,  at  Bordeaux  and  La  Rochelle, 
waiting  an  opportunity  to  return  home  to  the  United 
States.  Nearly  all  the  American  captains  and  supercar 
goes  at  this  time  in  France  were  well  known  to  each 
other,  and  were  upon  very  friendly  terms.  I  found  here, 
as  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  that  mutual  interest  and 
mutual  sympathy  draw  men  closely  together.*  We  were 
all  devising  means  to  get  home,  some  going  to  Amelia 
Island  in  neutral  vessels,  others  taking  passage  in  let- 
ters-of-marque,  and  some  few  in  ships-of-war. 

A  few  days  before  I  arrived  at  Bordeaux,  on  the  1  Oth 
of  April,  there  was  a  terrible  battle  fought  between  the 
French  and  English  armies  at  Toulouse.  The  French 
army  was  commanded  by  Marshal  Soult,  and  the  Eng 
lish  by  Lord  Wellington.  This  was  a  most  sanguinary 
conflict.  Although  the  English  were  victorious,  they 
lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  about  five  thousand  men, 
and  the  French  about  three  thousand.  I  saw^  great 
numbers  of  English  officers  who  were  brought  down  to 
Bordeaux  sadly  maimed,  some  with  the  loss  of  their 
limbs,  others  cut  and  mutilated  in  a  frightful  manner. 
These  sights  and  scenes  were  absolutely  enough  to 
sicken  one  with  war. 

I  had  now  so  far  arranged  all  my  commercial  affairs 
in  Bordeaux  with  my  friends  Messrs.  Bruri  freres,  that  I 
thought  seriously  of  returning  to  the  United  States,  by 
the  first  good  opportunity.  Thus,  after  staying  in  this 
city  six  days,  I  left  it  again  on  the  21st  of  April,  to  re 
turn  to  La  Rochelle  in  search  of  a  passage  home.  I 
took  the  diligence  and  travelled  on  the  great  public 

°  For  example,  a  gentleman  who  witnessed  the  great  earthquake  at  Car- 
raccas,  in  March.  1812,  told  me,  that  at  that  time  he  saw  men  embrace  each 
other  who  had  not  spoken  together  for  years,  and  that  the  whole  community 
buried  their  private  animositio?  in  far»o  of  the  gen  oral  danirer. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  207 

road  along  the  sea-coast,  and  arrived  in  two  days  at  La 
Rochelle.  Here  I  found  the  Rattlesnake  and  Commo 
dore  Decatur  still  blockaded,  and,  as  it  appeared  alto 
gether  uncertain  when  they  would  be  able  to  get  to  sea, 
after  remaining  here  a  fortnight,  I  concluded  to  proceed  to 
Nantes.  I  accordingly  left  La  Rochelle  on  the  10th  of 
May  ;  travelled  on  the  grand  route,  and  passing  through 
Morcilles,  Napoleon,  and  several  towns  and  villages,  ar 
rived  at  Nantes  on  the  llth  of  May.  The  distance  from 
La  Rochelle  to  this  place  is  100  miles.  I  stopped  at  the 
Hotel  de  France  for  a  few  days,  and  then  took  private 
lodgings  with  Captain  Jacobs,  of  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Kemp,  of  Baltimore.  His  schooner  was  an 
chored  at  Paimboeuf,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Loire, 
about  thirty  miles  below  Nantes.  I  made  frequent  ex 
cursions  with  Captain  Jacobs  down  to  Paimboeuf.  and 
found  the  river  very  shallow  and  full  of  flats  and  sand 
bars,  and  very  difficult  to  ascend  except  for  small  ves 
sels.  There  is,  however,  water  enough  at  the  port  of 
Paimboeuf,  and  the  anchorage  is  good  and  safe.  The 
shores  and  meadows  along  the  river  in  the  summer  sea 
son  are  beautiful.  The  grounds  are  highly  cultivated,  and 
the  houses  and  cottages  are  neat  and  pretty.  Nantes  is 
a  fine  old  city,  lying  in  lat.  47°  13'  N.,  long.  1°  33'  W., 
about  210  miles  in  a  direct  line  S.W.  of  Paris.  By  Or 
leans,  Blois,  Tours  and  other  towns  on  the  Loire,  the 
distance  is  about  300  miles.  It  is  generally  well  built, 
and  has  a  great  many  public  squares.  The  quays  along 
the  river  are  very  fine,  and  shaded  by  rows  of  large  elm 
trees,  which  render  them  delightful  promenades.  Nantes 
was  formerly  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  com 
mercial  town  in  France,  and  is  still  a  place  of  considera 
ble  importance  in  a  commercial  point  of  view.  It  num 
bers  from  one  hundred  and  eighty  to  two  hundred  thou- 


208  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [ISU. 

sand  inhabitants,  and  is,  in  my  opinion,  the  most  moral 
town  of  its  size  in  the  kingdom.  Provisions  are  cheap, 
and  taking  every  thing  into  consideration,  it  is  a  very  de 
sirable  residence,  and  strangers  in  pursuit  of  health  and 
reasonable  living,  will  find  themselves  quiet  and  com 
fortable  in  this  highly  favored  place.  At  the  time  I 
visited  this  town,  there  appeared  to  be  about  three  wo 
men  to  one  man ;  the  male  population  had  been  taken 
away  in  great  numbers  for  the  last  twenty  years,  to  fill 
up  the  armies  of  France,  which  of  course  left  a  very 
large  proportion  of  females. 

I  came  on  here  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  passage 
to  the  United  States  ;  but  in  this  I  was  disappointed  : 
there  were  no  other  American  vessels  here  but  the 
Kemp  and  she  was  preparing  to  return  home  as  a  cruis 
ing  vessel — that  is  to  say,  to  pick  up  a  cargo  from  the 
enemy  on  the  ocean,  if  possible,  and  perhaps  man  and 
send  into  port  a  fast-sailing  rich  prize  or  two,  if  fortu 
nate  enough  to  meet  with  such.  This  mode  of  cruising, 
although  pleasant  enough  as  a  captain  did  not  meet  my 
views  as  a  passenger  or  a  volunteer.  I  therefore  con 
cluded  to  return  to  Bordeaux,  and  wait  a  more  favor 
able  opportunity  to  get  home. 

I  found  Captain  J.  a  pleasant,  gentlemanly  man,  and 
parted  with  him  with  sincere  regret.  After  spending 
about  a  month  of  perfect,  leisure  at  Nantes,  I  left  this 
agreeable  place  in  the  diligence  for  Bordeaux,  on  the 
13th  of  June,  1814.  The  distance  between  the  two 
cities  is  216  miles.  We  were  two  days  on  the  road,  and 
arrived  in  Bordeaux  on  the  15th,  without  accident. 
I  now  had  abundance  of  leisure,  not  only  to  look 
after  my  commercial  affairs  in  Bordeaux,  but  to  partake 
of  its  various  amusements,  and  enjoy  its  hospitable 
society. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  209 

On  the  9th  of  August  I  received  the  account  sales  of 
my  cottons,  with  a  statement  of  what  was  due  me, 
and  also  the  balance  due  for  freight,  all  of  which  was 
now  settled  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  I  forthwith  re 
mitted  to  my  owners  in  New  York,  in  sundry  bills  of 
exchange,  $8,692,  besides  leaving  a  large  balance  in  the 
hands  of  my  worthy  friends,  Messrs.  Brun  freres.  I  am 
happy  to  say,  I  surmounted  one  difficulty  after  another, 
until  things  began  to  wear  a  brighter  aspect ;  and  as  I 
was  unable  to  obtain  a  passage  from  any  of  the  ports  on 
the  western  coast,  I  decided  to  go  up  to  Paris  and 
spend  a  few  weeks,  and  try  to  get  a  passage  home  from 
some  of  the  northern  ports  of  France. 

Before  leaving  this  place,  it  would  be  ungrateful  i:i 
me  not  to  speak  of  the  kind  hospitality  I  received  in 
this  town  ;  even  amidst  war  and  confusion,  'the  rites  of 
hospitality  are  here  never  forgotten.  The  kind  treat 
ment  to  strangers  by  the  inhabitants  of  Bordeaux  is 
proverbial,  and  needs  no  repetition  from  me.  Still,  I 
am  happy  to  bear  my  feeble  testimony,  and  time  will 
never  efface  from  my  memory  the  happy  days  I  havo 
spent  in  this  delightful  city. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  I  left  Bordeaux  in  the  dili 
gence  for  the  capital.  We  passed  through  Angouleme, 
Poictiers,  Tours,  and  along  the  pleasant  banks  of  the 
Loire  to  Blois,  Orleans,  and  from  thence  to  Paris.  The 
time  occupied  in  performing  this  journey  was  five  days, 
and  the  distance  130  post  leagues,  and  the  whole  ex 
pense,  including  the  fee  to  the  conductor,  postillion,  ser 
vants,  etc.,  etc.,  was  196  francs.  I  put  up  at  the  Hotel 
Strasbourg,  in  the  Rue  Notre  Dame  des  Victoires.  We 
got  into  the  vicinity  of  this  magnificent  city  just  before 
the  dawn  of  day.  A  young  American  friend  was  my 
travelling  companion,  and  we  were  at  daylight  on  the 
14 


210  THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

qui  vive  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  this  vast  metropo 
lis,  when  just  as  the  sun  was  rising  we  ascended  a  hill, 
and  behold !  the  famed  city  of  Paris  was  in  full  view. 
Among  the  many  objects  of  admiration  that  caught  the 
eye,  the  dome  of  the  Hotel  des  Invalides  was  the  most 
conspicuous  ;  it  was  newly  gilded,  and  when  the  sun 
shone  upon  this  splendid  object,  the  effect  was  truly  en 
chanting.  I  was  young  and  enthusiastic  at  that  time, 
and  shall  never  forget  the  impression  made  on  my  mind 
by  this,  my  first  view  of  this  astonishing  city. 

It  was  absolutely  like  transporting  one  to  another 
world.  I  had  r'ead  its  history  from  my  boyish  days,  and 
now,  for  the  first  time,  beheld  it  in  all  its  magnificence. 
Since  that  time  I  have  visited  many  parts  of  the  globe, 
and,  even  down  to  this  date,  1856, 1  have  never  met  its 
equal.  London,  certainly,  covers  a  greater  space,  and 
has  almost  double  the  number  of  inhabitants  ;  still, 
there  never  was,  nor  ever  will  be,  but  one  Paris. 

Immediately  on  my  arrival  in  Paris,  I  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  letter  to  the  several  owners  of  the  David  Porter  : 

PARIS,  20th  August,  1814. 

Messrs.  Lawrence  §•    Whitney,  James  Lovett,  Esq.,  and 
the  other  owners  of  the  David  Porter : 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  have  this  moment  arrived  here  from 
Bordeaux.  I  came  here  in  hopes  of  obtaining  a  pas 
sage  home  in  the  ship  John  Adams,  from  Amsterdam, 
which  ship,  I  am  informed,  is  to  sail  in  about  a  week 
from  this  day  for  America.  I  need  not  tell  you  my  dis 
appointment  to  learn  from  several  American  gentlemen 
who  are  here,  that  they,  with  several  others  in  London, 
have  applied  to  our  Minister  for  a  passage  in  said  ship, 
and  have  been  refused,  and  that  it  is  absolutely  impossi- 


1814.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  211 

ble  to  obtain  a  passage  in  the  John  Adams  on  any 
terms.  How,  or  in  what  way,  I  shall  get  home,  I  am 
not  able  to  say,  but  assure  you  I  shall  embrace  the  first 
opportunity.  It  was  not  until  the  9th  instant  that  I  got 
my  business  settled  with  Brun  freres.  Enclosed  I  send 
you  one  set  of  bills  of  exchange,  amounting,  together, 
to  $8,691,  all  of  which,  I  trust,  will  be  paid,  without 
any  difficulty  ;  if  they  are  not,  the  persons  from  whom 
I  bought  them  are  fully  able  to  pay  them,  should  they 
be  returned.  I  enclose  you,  also,  account  sales  of  our 
cotton.  Independent  of  what  I  now  remit  you,  I  have 
left  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Brun  freres  about  40,000 
francs.  What  I  now  remit  you,  with  what  I  have  left 
in  the  hands  of  Brun  freres,  all  belongs  to  the  joint 
concern  of  the  owners  of  the  David  Porter,  when,  the 
voyage  is  settled,  except  a  small  sum  due  to  my  officers. 

As  you  may  suppose,  I  am  very  much  fatigued  after 
so  long  a  journey  ;  but  for  fear  my  letter  will  not  be  in 
time  to  go  by  the  John  Adams,  I  am  obliged  to  write 
this  in  haste,  which  I  hope  you  will  receive  as  an  apology 
for  my  not  writing  more  particularly. 

I  hope  before  long  to  find  a  passage  home  some  way 
or  other,  when  I  trust  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  ex 
plain  every  thing  to  your  satisfaction. 

As  I  am  too  late  to  write  any  of  my  friends  by  this 
opportunity,  please  advise  them  of  the  substance  of  this 
letter,  and  oblige 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

After  having  delivered  several  letters  of  introduction ' 
from  my  friend  in  Bordeaux,  I  occupied  myself  for  some 
days  attending  to  commercial  business,  and  among  other 
things,  purchased  five  thousand  francs  worth  of  French 


212  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

silks,  shawls,  silk  stockings,  etc.  These  articles  were  all 
carefully  packed  and  dispatched  to  Bordeaux,  to  be  ship 
ped  by  the  first  fast-sailing  American  schooner  that 
should  leave  'that  place  for  the  United  States.  When 
this  was  accomplished,  I  commenced  visiting  the  various 
museums,  libraries,  public  gardens,  palaces,  etc.  It  being 
a  fine  season  of  the  year,  I  also  made  excursions  to  St. 
Cloud,  Versailles,  St.  Germain,  St.  Denis,  and  other 
places  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  metropolis. 

There  are  in  this  great  city  so  many  objects  of  curi 
osity,  that  a  stranger  may  spend  several  months  with 
pleasure  and  profit  in  visiting  them. 

The  day  before  I  left  Paris,  I  wrote  the  following 
letter  : 

PARIS,  September  8th,  1814. 
Messrs.  Archibald  Grade  &  Sons : 

GENTLEMEN  :• — I  send  you  inclosed  a  bill  of  exchange 
for  $991,  on  James  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Baltimore.  This 
is  the  net  proceeds  of  your  51  bales  of  cotton.  By  the 
ship  John  Adams,  I  forwarded  you  one  set  of  these  bills, 
and  account  sales.  I  also  sent  one  copy  to  L'Orierit,  to 
be  forwarded.  This  I  shall  send  to  England,  to  go  by 
the  Cartel,  which,  I  am  told,  is  now  fitting  for  the  Uni 
ted  States. 

I  am  extremely  sorry,  gentlemen,  your  shipment  of 
cotton  has  turned  out  so  much  to  your  disadvantage.  I 
however  hope  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe  I 
have  done  the  best  I  could  in  the  business.  I  came  on 
here  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  passage  in  the  John 
Adams  from  Amsterdam,  but  was  disappointed,  as  they 
are  not  allowed  to  take  passengers.  I  am  also  informed 
that  the  Cartel,  which  is  now  fitting  away  from  England, 


1814.]  THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.        .  213 

takes  none  but  prisoners.  I  shall,  therefore,  leave  here 
to-morrow  morning  for  Bordeaux,  and  endeavor  to  get 
a  passage  to  Amelia  Island,  or  the  West  Indies,  and  from 
thence  home,  when  I  hope  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to 
explain  everything  relating  to  your  shipment  to  your 
satisfaction. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect  and  regard, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

«r 

P.  S.  I  wrote  by  the  schooner  Commodore  Decatur, 
brig  Rattlesnake,  and  Commodore  Perry,  which  letters 
I  fear  you  have  never  received,  as  it  is  here  reported 
that  all  those  vessels  have  been  captured. 

Yours  truly, 

G.  C. 

At  this  period  there  was  but  a  small  number  of  Amer 
ican  gentlemen  in  Paris,  consequently  they  were  gene 
rally  known  to  each  other. 

The  Ambassador  from  the  United  States,  residing  here, 
was  the  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Crawford,  He  was  highly  re 
spected  and  esteemed  by  the  Americans,  and  seemed  to 
take  pleasure  in  acts  of  kindness  and  benevolence  to  his 
countrymen.  From  a  turbulent  state  of  war  and  con 
fusion,  Paris  had  lately  become  quiet  and  tranquil. 
Louis  XVIII. ,  and  other  members  of  the  royal  family, 
used  almost  daily  to  show  themselves  from  the  balcony 
of  the  Tuileries,  and  I  frequently  saw  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Angouleme  riding  on  horseback  in  various 
parts  of  the  city. 

The  theatres  and  all  public  places  of  amusement  were 
open,  and  appeared  to  be  well  patronized  and  supported. 


214  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

There  were  vast  numbers  of  strangers  here  from  different 
parts  of  Europe,  and  every  body  seemed  to  be  in  pursuit 
of  pleasure. 

After  having  spent  twenty  days  amidst  these  gay 
scenes,  I  left  Paris  on  the  9th  of  September,  1814,  in 
the  diligence,  and  returned  by  the  same  route  by  which 
I  came  up,  passing  through  Orleans  and  down  along  the 
banks  of  the  Loire,  and  so  on  to  Bordeaux,  where  I  ar 
rived  on  the  13th  of  September,  without  accident. 

I  had  many  kind  friends  in  this  city,  and  returned  to  it 
with  pleasure,  but  found  those  from  America  were  daily 
diminishing  ;  some  returning  home  in  neutral  ships,  by 
way  of  the  West  Indies  and  Amelia  Island  •  others  going 
to  Holland  to  take  passage  from  that  country.  My 
friend  R.  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  after  wait 
ing,  several  months  for  a  passage  to  the  United  States, 
had  left  this  place  for  L'Orient,  in  hopes  of  getting  a 
passage  from  that  city  to  the  United  States  with  Capt. 
Blakely,  in  the  Wasp.  This  ship  after  having  captured 
the  British  sloop-of-war  Reindeer,  put  into  L'Orient  for 
supplies,  and  here  Mr.  Stewart  joined  her.  They  sailed 
from  that  place  on  the  27th  of  August,  1814,  bound  on 
a  cruise  for  several  months,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  appointed  time  intended  to  return  to  the  United 
States. 

A  few  days  after  leaving  port  she  made  several  prizes 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  Sept.,  she  engaged  and 
captured  the  British  sloop-of-war  Avon,  of  18  guns.  A 
few  minutes  after  this  ship  had  surrendered,  the  English 
brig-of-war  Castilian,  of  18  guns,  fired  one  broadside  into 
the  Wasp,  and  then  hauled  off  and  escaped  in  the  dark 
ness  of  the  night.  There  is  scarcely  a  doubt  that  the 
Wasp  would  have  taken  the  Castilian  also,  if  they  had 
been  favored  with  daylight.  While  on  board  the  Wasp, 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIYATEERS.  215 

Mr.  Stewart  joined  the  marine  corps,  as  a  volunteer, 
and  thus  assisted  under  the  brave  Blakely  to  vanquish 
the  enemies  of  his  country. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  the  Wasp  took  and 
destroyed  two  British  brigs  ;  and  on  the  21st  of  the 
same  month,  in  latitude  33°  12'  North,  longitude  14° 
56'  West,  she  captured  the  British  armed  brig  Atalanta. 
This  being  a  valuable  prize,  Captain  Blakely  determined 
to  send  her  into  port.  'He  put  on  board  of  her  as  prize- 
master,  Midshipman  Geisinger,  and  a  prize-crew.  In 
this  brig,  Mr.  Stewart  went  as  passenger.  She  arrived 
safely  at  Savannah  on  the  14th  of  November,  1814. 
These  two  gentlemen  and  the  prize-crew  are  all  that  es 
caped  from  the  ever-to-be-lamented  Wasp  and  her'  gal 
lant  crew.  I  take  pleasure  in  stating  these  facts,  that 
the  patriotic  conduct  of  my  friend  may  be  known  to  the 
world,  as  I  have  never  seen  his  name  mentioned  in  con 
nection  with  the  ill-fated  Wasp  (in  any  official  account), 
and  I  deem  it  but  a  matter  of  common  justice  to  record  my 
knowledge  of  these  facts.  There  were  very  many  patri 
otic  individuals  during  our  late  war  with  England  who 
rendered  essential  service  to  their  country  and  are  en 
titled  to  its  gratitude,  whose  acts,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  are 
almost  entirely  unknown  ;  for  instance,  my  worthy 
friends  Mantor,  of  the  Ida,  and  Stewart,  who  was  a 
volunteer  on  board  the  victorious  Wasp. 

While  in  Bordeaux,  I  heard  the  gratifying  news  of 
the  safe  arrival  of  the  schooner  David  Porter,  at  Glou 
cester,  Cape  Ann,  and  also  of  the  arrival  of  the  brig  Ida, 
at  Boston.  After  I  left  the  David  Porter,  at  Tile  Dieu, 
under  the  command  of  Mr.  Nichols,  he  captured  on  his 
passage  home  several  British  prizes,  from  which  vessels 
he  loaded  the  schooner,  and  carried  with  him  into  port 
ten  prisoners.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Cape  Ann,  he 


216  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [18H. 

proceeded  with  the  David  Porter  to  Boston,  at  which 
place  the  vessel  and  cargo  were  consigned  to  the  respec 
table  house  of  Messrs.  Munson  &  Barnard,  at  that  place. 
These  gentlemen  sold  both  vessel  and  cargo  at  high 
prices.  They  also  sold  the  brandy  and  wine,  by  the  brig 
Ida,  at  a  very  good  profit,  and  closed  the  whole  concern 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  I  think  the 
schooner  sold  for  $10,000,  and  was  soon  fitted  out  as  a 
regular  privateer,  and  I  believe  was  afterwards  very 
successful. 

Messrs.  Munson  and  Barnard  also  received  from  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  $1,000  as  a  bounty 
on  the  ten  prisoners. 

The  trunk  of  goods  which  I  purchased  in  Paris  for 
5,000  francs,  or  say  $1,000,  was  shipped  by  my  friends 
in  Bordeaux,  on  board  the  Baltimore  schooner  Transit, 
Captain  Richardson.  This  vessel  arrived  in  New  York 
on  or  about  the  8th  of  March,  1815,  and  this  trunk  of 
goods  sold  at  auction  for  $2,075. 

BORDEAUX,   Oct.  1st.,  1814. 

I  had  now  closed  the  voyage  of  the  David  Porter,  so 
far  as  it  devolved  upon  me,  and  will  here  close  the  sub 
ject  with  a  few  remarks. 

When  it  is  considered  how  many  obstacles  we  met 
with,  from  the  commencement  of  the  voyage  on  the  14th 
day  of  Nov.,  1813,  until  its  conclusion,  I  think  it  will  be 
conceded  that  we  triumphed  over  many  difficulties,  and 
ultimately  made  a  good  voyage  ;  and  I  am  happy  to  add. 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  the  owners  of  the  fortu 
nate  little  schooner. 

I  will  here  insert  the  following  letter  to  my  brother 
Charles  Coggeshall,  second  lieutenant  of  the  letter-of- 
marque  David  Porter,  at  Milford,  Connecticut. 


1814.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  217 

BORDEAUX,  Oct.  2lst.,  1814. 

DEAR  CHARLES  : — I  am  now  on  the  eve  of  leaving 
this  place  for  L'Orient,  to  take  command  of  the  elegant 
American  schooner  Leo.  I  have  been  waiting  several 
months  to  obtain  a  passage  home  to  the  United  States, 
and  have  consented  to  take  charge  of  this  schooner,  to 
proceed  from  France  to  Charleston  or  some  other  south 
ern  port. 

Your  cotton  netted  903  francs.  The  account  sales  I 
have  sent  to  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Whitney,  and  desired 
them  to  pay  you  the  amount,  together  with  the  gain  on 
the  exchange,  which  is  about  10  per  cent. 

You  may,  perhaps,  ask  why  I  did  not  invest  the 
amount  in  French  goods,  that  you  might  have  gained  a 
larger  profit.  I  answer  that  I  did  not  feel  myself  author 
ized  to  hazard  your  property  without  your  consent,  the 
risk  of  capture  being  in  my  opinion  very  great. 

I  was  very  happy  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  in  the 
David  Porter.  Both  Captain  Nichols  and  yourself,  and 
in  fact,  all  the  officers  and  men  deserve  a  great  deal  of 
praise,  and  I  do  assure  you  I  shall  never  forget  your 
faithful  and  very  friendly  conduct  during  the  whole 
voyage.  Yes,  Charles,  although  I  sometimes  scold  a 
little  when  we  are  together,  I  need  not  tell  you  how 
dear  you  are  to  me,  and  that  your  faithful  and  brave 
conduct  has  entirely  won  my  heart.  I  hope  you  will 
study  navigation,  and  improve  your  mind  by  reading 
while  you  remain  at  home,  and  thus  qualify  yourself  to 
command  a  ship  when  the  war  is  ended.  Should  the 
enemy  dare  to  molest  the  part  of  the  country  where  you 
may  be,  I  hape  and  trust  you  will  be  among  the  first  to 
drive  them  into  the  sea.  Our  father  fought  them  in  1775, 
before  he  was  as  old  as  you  are,  and  I  hope  he  has  not 


218  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

left  a  son  who  would  not  defend  his  country,  if  necessary, 
with  his  heart's  blood. 

We  hear  nothing  from  America  but  degrading  defeats 
and  losses  of  every  kind.  Washington  City  burnt, 
our  armies  on  the  frontiers  beaten  in  one  place  or 
another,  and  every  thing  appears  to  be  going  to  the 
devil.  If  things  go  on  no  better,  I  shall  be  ashamed  to 
acknowledge  myself  an  American. 

I  shall  write  to  mother  and  sister  by  the  same  vessel 
that  conveys  this  to  you. 

Remember  me   affectionately  to  our  brothers  James 
and  Francis,  and  believe  me,  my  dear  Charles, 
Your  sincere  friend  and  brother, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

CRUISES  OP  THE  SCOURGE  AND  RATTLESNAKE — THEY  TAKE  NUMEROUS  PRIZES — FRI 
GATE  PRESIDENT,  COMMODORE  RODGERS,  CRUISING  OFF  THE  NORTH  CAPE — DRONTHEIM, 
IN  NORWAY— THE  RATTLESNAKE  ARRIVES  AT  LA  ROCHELLE — THE  SAUCY  JACK  CAP 
TURES  THE  SHIP  PELHAM,  AND  TAKES  HER  TO  CHARLESTON  THE  GRAND  TURK 
CAPTURES  THE  INDIAN  LASS,  AND  SENDS  HER  TO  SALEM— CRUISE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
PERRY,  OF  BALTIMORE — DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  NEUFCHATEL  PRIVATEER 
AND  THE  BOATS  OF  A  BRITISH  MAN-OF-WAR  OFF  NANTUCKET — THE  PRIVATEER 
HARPY,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  PACKET  PRINCESS  ELIZABETH — 
THE  PRIVATEER  SABINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  COUNTESS  OF 

HARCOURT CAPTURE   OF   THE   NEW    FREDERICK   BY    THE  PRIVATEER  KEMP — NARROW 

ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  FOX  FROM  A  BRITISH  SHIP-OF-WAR — THE  PRIVATEER 
CAROLINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAPTURES  THE  BRITISH  BRIG  ELIZABETH,  AND  SENDS 
HER  TO  CHARLESTON— CAPTURE  OF  A  SCHOONER  BY  THE  KEMP  OF  BALTIMORE  THE 

SCHOONER'S  ARRIVAL  AT  CAPE  FRANCOIS. 

SUCCESSFUL  CRUISES  MADE  BY  THE  PRIVATEERS  SCOURGE  AND 
RATTLESNAKE,  OFF  THE  NORTH  CAPE,  AND  COAST  OF  NORWAY. 

The  privateers  Scourge  and  Rattlesnake  appear  to 
merit  something  more  than  a  passing  remark.  As  they 
were  often  in  company  in  a  distant  sea,  on  the  same 
cruising  ground,  and  as  they  were  very  fortunate  in 
capturing  and  annoying  the  enemy's  trade  and  com 
merce,  I  shall  devote  a  separate  notice  to  them  as  their 
just  due. 

Though  the  worthy  captains  of  both  these  vessels 
have  passed  away  from  earthly  scenes,  I  hope  their  acts 
and  deeds  in  their  country's  service  will  ever  be  appre 
ciated,  while  bravery  and  patriotism  are  held  in  high  re 
gard  by  civilized  nations. 

The  Rattlesnake  belonged  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  David  Maffet,  an  excellent  seaman, 
and  a  brave,  honorable  man. 

Captain  Maffet  commanded  a  privateer  from  the  coin- 

(219) 


220  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

mencement  of  the  war  to  its  termination,  and  was  al 
ways  active  and  vigilant.  In  the  early  part  of  the  war, 
he  commanded  the  Atlas,  and  I  think  one  other  (of  this, 
however,  I  am  not  sure),  until  he  took  command  of  the 
Rattlesnake,  in  1813. 

She  was  a  fine  fast-sailing  brig,  carrying  14  guns, 
suitably  equipped,  and  well  supplied  with  able  officers 
and  men. 

After  leaving  the  United  States  Captain  Maffet  pro 
ceeded  to  cruise  off  the  North  coast  of  England,  and 
from  thence  to  the  coast  of  Norway,  where  having  made 
many  valuable  prizes,  and  inflicted  much  injury  upon 
British  commerce,  he  put  into  La  Rochelle  about  the 
middle  of  March,  1814,  to  refresh  his  officers  and  crew, 
and  refit  for  another  cruise. 

The  Scourge  was  owned  in  New  York,  and  com 
manded  by  Captain  Samuel  Nicoll,  a  native  of  Stratford, 
Connecticut.  He  was  a  worthy,  intelligent,  enterprising 
man,  and  a  good  patriot. 

The  Scourge  was  a  large  schooner  privateer,  mount 
ing  15  carriage  guns,  with  musketry,  etc.,  and  suitably 
officered  and  manned  for  a  long  cruise.  She  sailed  from 
New  York  in  April  1813,  for  the  north  coast  of  Eng 
land  and  Norway. 

Captain  Nicoll  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  a 
good  financier.  After  he  had  made  one  or  two  success 
ful  cruises,  he  found  it  more  to  his  advantage  to  remain 
on  shore  in  the  different  ports  of  Norway,  where  he  sent 
in  most  of  his  prizes,  and  attend  to  the  sale  of  them  than  to 
go  to  sea,  and  leave  the  management  of  his  rich  prizes  in 
the  hands  of  dishonest  or  incompetent  persons.  Conse 
quently,  he  occasionally  appointed  one  of  his  lieutenants 
to  command  the  Scourge,  to  cruise  under  his  direction. 
This  accounts  for  Captain  Nicoll's  name  not  ap- 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  221 

pearing  more  frequently  in  the  public  journals  at  that 
period. 

On  the  19th  of  July,  while  Captain  Nicoll  was  off  the 
North  Cape,  in  the  Scourge,  he  fell  in  with  and  cruised 
for  several  days  in  company  with  Commodore  Rodgers, 
in  the  United  States  frigate  President,  who  was  then 
cruising  in  those  high  northern  latitudes. 

After  Commodore  Rodgers  left  that  region  for  a  more 
southerly  one,  the  Scourge  proceeded  off  the  coast  of 
Norway,  and  alternately  off  the  North  Cape,  to  intercept 
British  ships  sailing  to  and  from  Archangel. 

The  following  list  comprises  a  portion,  but  by  no 
means  all  the  prizes  captured  by  the  Scourge  and  Rat 
tlesnake.  A  great  number  were  sent  into  the  different 
ports  in  the  United  States  and  Norway,  particularly  into 
the  harbor  of  Drontheim,  and  many  others  were  dis 
posed  of  in  various  ways. 

;-  The  winds  and  seas  are  Britain's  wide  domain, 
And  not  a  sail,  but  by  permission  spreads." 

British  Naval  Register. 

British  bark  Concord,  West,  187  tons,  and  two  guns, 
from  London  for  Archangel,  in  ballast. 

Ship  Liberty,  Sugden,  253  tons,  and  8  guns,  from 
Liverpool  for  the  same  place,  in  ballast. 

Brig  Jolly  Bachelor,  Struthon,  of  119  tons,  from  Arch 
angel,  laden  with  tar,  bound  for  Aberdeen. 

Brig  Ruby,  of  4  guns,  138  tons,  taken  by  the  Rat 
tlesnake. 

Hartford,  260  tons,  from  London,  and  Sutherland, 
for  Archangel,  in  ballast,  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Brig  Brunswick,  Lewis,  249  tons.  4  guns,  from  Dub 
lin  for  the  same  port,  taken  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Latona,  of  Shields,  by  the  Scourge. 

Experiment,  of  Aberdeen,  by  the  Scourge. 


222  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1814, 

Brigs  Nottingham,  266  tons  and  4  guns,  and  Britan 
nia,  4  guns,  both  from  Onega,  Russia,  for  Hull,  cargoes 
lumber  ;  after  an  action  of  fifteen  minutes — no  lives 
lost — taken  by  the  Scourge. 

Prosperous,  260  tons  and  4  guns,  in  ballast,  from 
Newcastle  ;  given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners,  by 
the  Scourge. 

Ship  Brutus,  taken  by  the  Scourge  and  Rattesnake  ; 
given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners. 

"Westmoreland,  from  London,  partly  laden  with 
sugars  ;  taken  by  the  Scourge. 

The  Brothers,  of  126  tons,  from  Lancaster  ;  by  the 
Scourge. 

Brig  Betsey,  186  tons  and  4  guns;  by  the  Rattle 
snake. 

Brig  Pax,  of  200  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Galliot  Perseverance,  167  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  the 
Rattlesnake. 

Sloop  Fame,  94  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Brig  Burton,  Ludlin,  of  266  tons,  and  4  guns,  from 
Onega  for  Hull  ;  by  the  Scourge. 

Brig  Thetis,  114  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Diligent,  250  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Friend's  Adventure,  245  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  the 
Rattlesnake: 

Brig  Hope,  260  tons,  4  guns,  cargo  of  linseed  ;  also 
the  Economy,  of  181  tons,  and  2  guns,  with  tar  ;  both 
from  Archangel  for  England  ;  by  the  Scourge. 

All  the  before-named  prizes  were  ordered  for  Dron- 
theim,  and  arrived  safe  at  that  port,  except  two  which 
were  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  one  laden  with  sugar, 
which  was  unfortunately  cast  away  on  her  passage  to 
Drontheim  ;  140  hhds.  of  sugar,  however,  were  saved, 
in  a  damaged  state 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  223 

The  Scourge  arrived  in  Drontheim  in  company  with 
the  Rattlesnake,  after  having  captured  the  above  vessels. 

The  aggregate  tonnage  of  these  vessels,  sent  into 
Norway,  amounted  to  4,505  tons,  numbering  60  guns. 

At  Drontheim,  the  Scourge  was  refitted,  and  rig 
ged  into  a  brig,  for  a  new  cruise,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  J.  R.  Perry.  Captain  JSTicoll  remained 
in  Drontheim  to  look  after  the  prizes. 

Here  follows  a  continuation  of  prizes  made  by  the 
Scourge,  and  other  incidents  relating  to  the  privateer 
schooner  Fox,  Brown  commander. 

The  Scourge  sailed  from  Drontheim  on  the  10th 
March,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  off  Cape  Wrath, 
captured  the  British  ship  Symetry,  a  fine  vessel, 
from  Liverpool,  350  tons,  coppered,  laden  with  salt, 
crates,  hardware,  etc.  ;  in  company  with  ship  Winches 
ter,  of  400  tons,  from  the  same  place,  laden  with  salt, 
crates,  porter,  etc.  ;  and  brig  Union,  200  tons,  from  the 
same  port,  cargo,  tobacco  ;  all  bound  to  Long  Hope,  for 
convoy  :  burnt  all  of  them.  Same  day,  boarded  a 
Swedish  ship  from  Liverpool,  and  put  part  of  the  pri 
soners  on  board  of  her. 

British  bark  Brothers,  260  tons,  from  Liverpool  for 
Long  Hope,  cargo  salt,  etc.  ;  and  manned  her  for  the 
United  States.  Next  day,  captured  a  sloop  from  London  ; 
put  on  board  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  gave  her  up. 
Tth. — Chased  a  Greenland  whale  ship,  and  fired  ten 
broadsides  at  her,  which  appeared  to  cut  her  up  con 
siderably.  A  sloop-of-war  in  chase,  close  in  shore  on 
the  coast  of  Scotland,  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  pur 
suit,  and  haul  off  to  get  clear  of  a  shoal.  The  sloop 
continued  the  chase  six  hours.  In  the  chase,  the 
Scourge  sprung  her  fore-topmast  badly. 

About  the   17th  of  April,    carried   away   both    top- 


224  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

masts  (blowing  no  more  than  a  good  breeze),  by  which 
accident  one  man  was  killed  and  three  wounded. 

About  the  22nd,  lat.  50°  N.,  Ion.  30°  W.,  captured 
the  British  ship  Caledonia,  300  tons,  from  Greenock  for 
Nova  Scotia,  in  ballast ;  put  on  board  twentj^-six  prison 
ers,  and  gave  her  up.  A  few  days  after,  captured  a  brig 
from  Dublin  for  Quebec,  with  salt,  etc. ;  sunk  her.  Same 
day,  captured  a  brig  from  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  for  Liver 
pool,  cargo  lumber,  etc.,  having  on  board  a  number  of 
women  and  children,  passengers  ;  took  out  some  rig 
ging,  sails,  etc.  ;  put  ten  prisoners  on  board,  and  gave 
her  up.  May  1st,  lat.  47°,  Ion.  32°,  captured  a  brig 
from  Dublin  for  N.  F.,  cargo  cordage,  duck,  fishing 
gear,  etc.  ;  ordered  her  for  the  United  State.  9/A,  lat. 
46°  N.  Ion.  44°  W.,  boarded  the  privateer  schooner  Fox, 
Brown,  forty  days  from  Portsmouth,  who  had  made  four 
prizes  ;  destroyed  two,  and  ordered  two  into  port.  She 
had  thrown  ten  guns  overboard  while  being  chased  by  a 
frigate.  She  had  chased  a  disguised  sloop-of-war,  and 
did  not  discover  the  mistake  until  close  aboard  her, 
when  she  opened  her  ports,  and  fired  two  broadsides 
into  the  Fox;  she,  however,  effected  her  escape.  Se 
veral  shot  struck  her,  and  one  went  through  her  arm 
chest,  and  broke  several  muskets.  No  one  was  injured. 

The  Scourge,  on  her  homeward  passage  from  Norway, 
after  leaving  the  coast  of  Scotland,  made  the  following 
prizes. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Leghorn,  with  an  exceedingly  rich 
cargo  of  silks,  oil,  sulphur,  marble,  etc.  ;  sent  her  into 
New  York. 

Ship  Lord  Hood,  from  Quebec  for  London  ;  burnt. 

Brig  Trident,  from  the  same  place  for  the  same  port ; 
burnt. 

Brig  Haddock,  from  Quebec  for  London  ;  also  burnt. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  225 

Brig  Belfield,  from  Quebec  for  London  ;  also  de 
stroyed. 

During  this  cruise,  the  Scourge  made  420  prisoners, 
and  arrived  at  Chatham,  Cape  Cod,  in  May,  after 
having  been  absent  from  the  United  States  about  a  year. 
This  vessel  was  very  appropriately  named,  for  she  was,  in 
truth,  a  severe  scourge  to  the  enemy.  She  inflicted 
a  chastisement  upon  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain 
that  will  cause  her  name  to  be  remembered  for  several 
generations. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

British  brig  Brothers,  captured  by  the  ship  America, 
of  Salem,  and  sent  into  Fontarabia,  a  port  in  Spain, 
and  there  sold,  by  the  consent  of  the  government. 

The  privateer  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the 
English  brig  Elizabeth,  for  Kingston,  (Jamaica,)  and 
sent  her  into  Charleston.  Though  the  Elizabeth  was 
nominally  in  ballast,  she  had  on  board  a  quantity  of 
British  goods,  which  were  removed  to  the  privateer,  and 
taken  by  her  into  Charleston.  She  has  recently  sailed 
on  a  second  cruize. 

The  ship  Annette  Catharine,  said  to  be  a  Swedish 
vessel,  cleared  out  at  Boston,  in  ballast  for  the  West  In 
dies,  but  found  to  have  had  on  board  a  cargo  of  p'rovi- 
sions.  She  was  captured  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and  sent 
into'  Charleston. 

The  Saucy  Jack  also  captured  the  British  schooner 
Nimble,  laden  with  log-wood,  and  sent  her  into  Beau 
fort. 

The  Caroline  captured  the  schooner  Jason,  of  Nas 
sau,  N".  P.,  divested  her  of  her  cargo,  and  set  her  on  fire. 

Schooner  ,  with  dry-goods  and  other  valuable 

articles,  captured  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  and  car- 
15 


226  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS  [1814. 

ried  into  Cape  Francois,  where  the  prize  and  her  cargo 
were  disposed  of. 

Schooner  Trinitaria,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston. 

Nine  valuable  British  vessels,  captured  by  the  priva 
teer  Prince  of  Neufchatel  (belonging  to  New  York),  on 
the  enemy's  coast  ;  they  were  sent  into  France,  or  de 
stroyed. 

Nine  vessels  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  in 
the  West  Indies,  divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and 
destroyed. 

Four  vessels  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  in 
money. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  into 
North  Carolina.  The  privateer  arrived  at  Newbern, 
N.  C. 

Brig  Apollo,  250  tons,  6  guns,  of  Poole,  England, 
laden  with  1,000  hhds.  of  salt,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
America,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Ann,  captured  by  ditto,  and  given  up  to  release 
the  prisoners. 

Cutter  Patty,  from  Scotland,  taken  by  ditto,  and  sunk. 

Brig ,  captured  by  ditto  and  sunk. 

Ship ,   in  ballast,    from  Liverpool  for  Antigua, 

sent"  into   Wilmington,  N.  C.,   by  the   Invincible,    of 
Salem. 

Schooner  Encouragement,  from  Antigua  for  Nova 
Scotia,  laden  with  20  hhds.  of  sugar,  20  hhds.  of  molasses 
and  5  of  rum,  captured  by  the  Frolic  of  Salem  and  de 
stroyed. 

British  brig  Two  Sisters,  from  Malaga  for  Holland, 
richly  laden  with  wine  and  fruits,  etc.,  captured  off  Cape 
Finnisterre  by  the  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent  into 
that  port, 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  227 

Schooner  Hope,  from  St.  Andrews  for  Barbadoes, 
laden  with  lumber,  beef,  oil,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Ame 
rica,  of  Salem,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Sylph,  of  Liverpool,  N.  S.,  laden  with  fish, 
oil,  etc.,  captured  by  ditto,  and  burnt. 

The  America  took  twelve  prizes  in  all,  several  of 
which  were  very  valuable.  She  had  arrived  at 
Salem,  with  fifty  prisoners  on  board.  She  had  also  40 
packages  of  dry-goods,  and  some  other  articles  taken 
from  her  prizes,  several  of  which  are  yet  to  be  heard 
of.  This  was  the  third  cruise  of  this  truly  fortu 
nate  vessel.  She  has  captured  in  the  whole  26  prizes  ; 
and  the  property  taken  and  safely  got  into  port  amounts 
to  about  $1,100, 000. 

Schooner  Eclipse,  laden  with  salt,  captured  by  the 
Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  but  lost  on  Rockaway  beach, 
Long  Island. 

Schooner  Cobham,  of  Bermuda,  sent  into  Wilmington, 
N.  C.,  by  the  Jonquilla,  of  New  York. 

Brig  Louisa,  laden  with  oil  and  fish,  sent  into  Eliza 
beth  City,  Ya.,  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  ship  Hebe, 
from  Halifax  for  Bermuda,  with  coal,  lumber,  etc.,  cap 
tured  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore,  the  third  day  after 
she  left  the  Chesapeake,  and  sent  into  a  southern  port. 

Brig  Nimble,  with  a  cargo  of  West  India  produce, 
captured  b}^  the  Invincible,  letter-of-marque,  and  sent 
into  Teneriffe,  where,  as  the  vessel  was  not  sea-worthy, 
the  cargo  was  sold. 

Brig  Ceres,  in  ballast,  captured  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay 
by  the  Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  from  Bordeaux,  on  her 
way  home,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  -  — ,  laden  with  70  hhds.  of  sugar,  captur 
ed  off  Martinique,  and  sent  into  New  Bedford  by  the 
Saratoga,  of  New  York. 


228  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

Schooner  Friends'  Adventure,  laden  with  60  hhds.  of 
*rum,  58  hhds.  of  molasses,  13  hhds.  of  sugar,  captured 
by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  sent  into  Wiscasset. 

Brig  Fanny,  of  London,  laden  with  fish,  captured  hy 
the  letter-of-marque  ship  Galloway,  of  New  York,  on 
her  passage  from  France,  and  sent  into  Nantes. 

Brig  -  — ,  laden  with  lumber,  captured  by  the  Fox, 
of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Kentish,  with  a  full  cargo  of  sugar,  sent  into 
Fair  Haven  by  the  Saratoga. 

Schooner  Prince  Regent,  10  guns,  captured  by  the 
Invincible,  of  N.  Y.  ;  divested  of  her  armament,  etc., 
and  given  up.  Cutter  Lyon,  with  dry-goods,  hard 
ware,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same  ;  divested  of  the 
most  valuable  part  of  her  goods,  and  given  up.  Brig 
Portsea,  8  guns,  captured  by  the  same  ;  divested  of  her 
valuable  goods,  and  given  up.  Brig  Conway,  10  guns, 
with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same  ;  took 
out  44  trunks,  35  cases,  and  23  bales  ;  she  was  manned, 
and  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Schooner  Francis  &  Lucy,  laden  with  fish,  oil,  and 
lumber,  captured  by  ditto,  and  given  up  to  the  pri 
soners. 

The  Invincible  also  captured,  close  in  with  Teneriffe, 
the  brig  Margaretta,  laden  with  wine  ;  she  was  given 
up,  as  having  been  taken  within  the  Spanish  jurisdic 
tion,  for  which,  when  the  Invincible  put  into  Santa 
Cruz,  the  captain  and  crew  were  well  received  by  the 
governor.  The  privateer  arrived  in  Charleston  full  of 
valuable  goods. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Siro,  of  Baltimore, 
bound  to  France,  has  been  captured  by  the  English, 
and  sent  into  Plymouth,  England. 

The   very  valuable    brig  Henry,    6  guns,    200  tons. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  229 

coppered,  from  Liverpool  for  Buenos  Ayres,  laden  with 
300  packages  of  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles,' 
invoiced  at  £40,000  sterling  ;  sent  into  New  York  by 
the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  that  port.  The  bounty  (or 
the  reduction  of  duties)  allowed  by  the  United  States  on 
this  prize  amounted  to  about  $35,000. 

The  cargo  of  the  prize  ship  Nereid  has  been  disposed 
of  at  New  York.  The  gross  amount  of  the  sales,  ex 
clusive  of  the  jewellry,  was  $270,000. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  by  the 

Snap  Dragon  •  laden  with  mahogany. 

The  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  when  off  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  18th  of  April,  had  a  severe  en 
gagement  with  the  British  transport  ship  Lord  Somers. 
During  the  action,  Captain  Staples,  of  the  York,  and 
five  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  twelve  wounded.  In 
this  disabled  situation,  the  privateer  was  obliged  to 
haul  off,  and  give  up  the  contest. 

About  the  15th  of  May,  the  Mammoth,  Revenge, 
and  Fairy,  all  of  Baltimore,  were  cruising  off  St.  Bar 
tholomews. 

Brig  James,  from  the  Isle  of  France  for  England, 
captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia  ;  divest 
ed  of  part  of  her  cargo,  manned,  and  ordered  into  port. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  same  ;  one  was  destroy 
ed,  the  other  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners.  The 
Young  Wasp  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  (May  28th),  with 
a  quantity  of  valuable  goods  on  board. 

Ship  Union,  from  Jamaica,  laden  with  sugar  and  cof 
fee,  captured  by  the  Rambler  ;  recaptured  by  the  Cur 
lew,  but  lost  near  Sambo  lighthouse. 

Brig  Fair  Stranger,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  oil,  etc., 
sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Fox  of  that  port. 

Brig •,  from  Lisbon  for  Passage,  with  provisions 


230  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

for  the  English  troops,  captured  and  destroyed  by  the 
Expedition,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Miranda,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  of  Bal 
timore  ;  divested  of  some  dry-goods,  and  burnt.  Sloop 
Martha,  laden  with  government  stores,  captured  by  the 
same  ;  divested  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo  ; 
the  other  part  of  it  was  destroyed  :  she  was  then  made 
a  cartel  of,  to  release  the  prisoners.  Two  other  vessels 
were  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  destroyed  ;  one  of 
them  had  on  board  a  quantity  of  money  in  gold. 

The  very  valuable  schooner  Adeline  arrived  at  New 
York,  from  Bordeaux.  She  was  captured  four  days 
out.  by  a  British  frigate,  but  recaptured  by  the  Expedi 
tion,  six  days  after.  The  Adeline  had  dispatches  for 
government  and  4,000  letters,  all  of  which  were  thrown 
overboard  previous  to  her  capture  by  the  enemy. 

Brig  Experience,  from  Jamaica  for  Gonaives  cap 
tured  by  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  but  lost  on  the 
island  of  Cuba,  being  chased  ashore.  Crew  saved. 

The  very  valuable  ship  Experience,  from  England  for 
Amelia  Island,  with  a  full  cargo  of  dry-goods,  glass 
ware,  etc.,  etc.,  300  tons  burthen  ;  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  privateer  Rapid.  This  vessel  and  cargo  was 
valued  at  $250,000. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  rum,  cocoa,  etc.,  sent  into 

the  Delaware  by  the  Perry,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Francis,  with  bullocks  for  the  British  army, 
captured  off  the  French  coast  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Midas,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  home,  and 
burnt. 

Schooner  Appallodore,  laden  with  450  boxes  of  fruit, 
captured  by  ditto,  and  sunk. 

Schooner  William  and  sloop  Irwin,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  sent  in  as  cartels,  with  59  prisoners. 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  231 

Brig  Bellona,  laden  with  Madeira  wine  and  fruit,  cap 
tured  by  the  Globe,  of  Baltimore,  and  by  stress  of  wea 
ther,  compelled  to  enter  Barracoa,  (Cuba),  where,  being 
condemned  as  unseaworthy,  the  vessel  and  cargo  were 
disposed  of. 

Sloop ,  cut  out  of  Carracoa  by  the  boats  of  the 

Saratoga,  and  sunk. 

Sloop  Cygnet,  from  Jamaica,  with  a  cargo  of  rum, 
sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C:,  by  the  Saratoga  of  New 
York. 

Schooner  Diligence,  from  Halifax  for  St.  Johns,  cap 
tured  by  the  York,  of  Baltimore,  .and  destroyed. 

Sloop  Bonita,  captured  by  the  Delisle,  of  Baltimore, 
and  destroyed. 

Brig  Robert,  with  fish  and  lumber,  from  St  Johns  for 
Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore, 
and  sent  into  Charleston. 

Ship  Equity,  from  London  for  Limerick,  captured  by 
the  Rattlesnake,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Adston,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  David  Porter,  of  New 
York,  was  obliged  to  hurry  off  from  La  Teste,  near  Bor 
deaux.  During  a  short  cruise  of  15  days  in  the  Bay  of 
Biscay  she  made  several  captures,  when  the  captain 
landed  on  1'Isle  Dieu,  and  sent  his  first  lieutenant  home 
with  the  vessel.  On  her  return  passage,  she  made  two 
or  three  more  prizes,  and,  after  obtaining  a  full  cargo 
from  them,  she  arrived  safe  at  Boston,  with  ten  or  fifteen 
prisoners  on  board.  Her  crew  of  officers  and  men  only 
numbered  twenty-five  or  thirty  souls. 

Brig  ,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into 

Portsmouth,  N".  H.,  by  the  Rattlesnake,  of  Philadel 
phia. 

Ship  James,  captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  divested 


232  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

of  $24,000  in  specie.  The  James  was  subsequently  re 
captured. 

Brig  Swift,  4  guns  and  15  men,  bound  for  Halifax, 
with  a  cargo  of  sundries,  sent  in  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of 
Baltimore. 

Brig  Camelion,  coppered,  from  the  West  Indies  for 
New  Brunswick,  laden  with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into 
an  eastern  port  by  the  Mammoth,  of  Baltimore. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore, 
divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and  destroyed.  The 
Caroline  arrived  at  Charleston  ;  she  captured  three 
other  vessels,  which  <  were  manned  and  ordered  into 
port. 

Ship  Fortuna  (under  Russian  colors),  from  Havana 
for  Riga,  with  1,520  boxes  of  sugar,  sent  into  Beaufort 
by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk.  The  cargo  was  the  property 
of  the  enemy,  consequently  condemned. 

Schooner  Phoebe,  with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into 
Wilmington,  N.  C.,  by  the  Hawk,  of  Washington. 

Brig  Kutozoff,  of  6  guns,  from  Laguira  for  Gibraltar, 
laden  with  coffee,  cocoa,  and  hides,  captured  after  a  very 
severe  action,  and  carried  by  boarding,  sent  into  Frank 
fort,  Maine  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore.  She  was 
worth  $50,000. 

Schooner  Young  Farmer,  from  Laguira.  laden  with 
indigo,  worth  $40,000,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
Henry  Guilder,  of  New  York,  and  brought  into  that 
port. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  James 
Monroe,  on  her  passage  from  L'Orient  to  Savannah,  and 
burnt. 

British  Polacca  ship,  Joanna,  of  Malta,  from  Constan 
tinople  for  Lisbon,  with  a  cargo  of  wheat  and  barley, 
worth  $30,000,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  sunk. 


18U.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  233 

The  Chasseur  captured  several  other  valuable  vessels 
on  the  same  cruise. 

The  elegant  ship  Pelham,  of  540  tons,  carrying  12 
guns;  a  vessel  of  the  first  class  from  London  for  Port- 
au-Prince,  laden  with  an  assorted  cargo,  494  packages 
of  India  and  British  goods,  captured  after  a  smart  action 
by  boarding,  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  con 
voyed  into  that  port. 

The  passengers  of  the  ship  Pelham,  captured  by  the 
Saucy  Jack,  and  sent  into  Charleston,  have  publicly  of 
fered  their  grateful  thanks  to  Captain  Chazel  and  his 
officers,  for  the  very  kind  treatment  they  experienced 
whilst  in  their  possession,  and  for  the  means  afforded  for 
their  liberation. 

The  Baltimore  privateers  Patapsco,  Grampus,  and 
Syren,  had  recently  sailed  from  New  York. 

Schooner  Hope,  from  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland,  laden 
with  fish,  was  sent  into  Saco  by  the  Pike,  of  Balti 
more. 

Schooner  Pickrel,  from  Dartmouth,  England,  bound 
to  Quebec,  laden  with  dry-goods,  teas,  etc.,  captured  by 
the  same,  divested  of  her  cargo  and  destroyed. 

Ship  Askew,  from  Palermo  for  Belfast,  captured  by 
the  True-Blooded  Yankee,  and  sent  into  France. 

Schooner  Brilliant,  with  6  guns,  an  elegant  vessel  of 
157  tons,  late  a  New  Providence  privateer,  laden  with 
116  casks  of  spermaceti  oil,  41  bales  of  cotton,  logwood, 
etc.,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  privateer  Scourge,  of  New 
York,  on  her  return  to  the  United  States. 

The  Scourge  took  two  other  valuable  vessels  on  the 
same  cruise,  viz.,  on  her  return  from  Norway. 

Brig  Dove,  laden  with  lumber,  from  Liverpool  for  Nova 
Scotia,  captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and 
burnt. 


234  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

The  Fox  also  captured  the  ship  Jane,  in  ballast,  from 
Scotland,  for  Marsmashea,  divested  and  given  up  to  re 
lease  the  prisoners. 

Ship  Mermaid,  sent  into  Damariscotta,  Maine,  laden 
with  salt  and  coal,  by  the  General  Pike,  of  Balti 
more. 

Ship  Commerce,  from  Limerick  for  Bilboa,  laden  with 
180  tons  of  barley,  and  100  tons  of  oats,  for  the  British 
army,  captured  by  the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore.  The 
Commerce  arrived  at  Portland,  Maine. 

The  British  ship  Upton,  from  Cork,  bound  for  New 
foundland,  was  captured  by  the  privateer  Diomede,  of 
Salem,  and  sent  into  Wiscasset.  The  Upton  was  270 
tons  burthen,  armed  with  16  guns,  and  104  men  (many 
of  them  were,  however,  passengers).  She  made  consider 
able  resistance,  and  had  one  man  killed  and-  another 
wounded  before  she  surrendered. 

The  brig  Providence,  from  Maryport,  England,  bound 
for  Nova  Scotia,  captured  by  the  Diomede,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Maryport,  England,  was  also 
captured  by  the  same  vessel,  and  destroyed.  The  Har- 
-mony  was  bound  to  some  port  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Brig  Recovery,  from  Halifax  for  St.  Andrews,  driven 
ashore  by  the  Diomede,  and  destroyed. 

Brig  Melpomene  of  6  guns  laden  with  250  pipes  of 
wine,  sent  into  Newport,  R.  I.  by  the  Chasseur  of  Bal 
timore. 

Brig  Britannia,  from  Teneriffe,  laden  with  wine,  sent 
into  Beaufort  by  the  same. 

Brig  -  — ,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  from  Jamaica 
for  England,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the  Roger,  of 
Norfolk. 

Schooner ,   sent  into  Newport  by  a   Baltimore 

privateer.         * 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  235 

Ship  Henry  Dundas,  for  Lisbon,  captured  by  the  Rat 
tlesnake,  and  released  after  divesting  her  of  the  most 
valuable  part  of  her  cargo. 

Brig  Indian  Lass,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Michaels, 
with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  of 
Salem,  divested  of  her  dry-goods,  and  ordered  into  port. 
She  arrived  safely  at  Salem  with  the  balance  of  her 
merchandize,  which  was  worth  $65,000.  She  also 
brought  in  30  prisoners. 

Brig  Catharine,  from  Lisbon  for  London,  captured  by 
the  Grand  Turk,  recaptured  by  the  British  brig  Bacchus, 
she  was  again  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk  and  subse 
quently  burnt. 

Sloop  Caroline,  from  London  for  St.  Michaels,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of 
her  cargo  and  then  given  up. 

The  Grand  Turk  took  several  other  vessels,  which  she 
ordered  into  port. 

Schooner  Traveller,  with  174  puncheons  of  rum.  etc., 
sent  into  Thomastown  by  the  Diomede,  of  Salern. 

Ship  Cod  Hook,  with  a  cargo  of  700  hhds.  of  salt, 
some  dry-goods,  crates,  flour,  bread,  and  iron ;  captured 
by  the  Diomede,  and  sent  into  Castine. 

Schooner  Victoria,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
cutter  sloop  Hero,  of  New  York,  on  her  passage  from 
France  ;  she  was  manned  and  ordered  for  an  American 
port,  but  was  soon  after  retaken  by  a  British  vessel-of- 
war,  and  the  American  prize  crew  were  all  taken  out 
but  one  man,  and  replaced  by  Englishmen.  After  be 
ing  in  possession  of  the  British  prize  crew  a  few  days, 
they  agreed  among  themselves  to  bring  her  into  the 
first  American  port.  She  was  a  fine,  large  schooner, 
laden  with  rum  and  molasses,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Charleston. 


23G  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

The  very  valuable  cargo  of  the  Russian  ship  Joachim, 
which  was  sent  into  a  Southern  port  by  the  Caroline, 
was  condemned  as  British  property  ;  vessel  cleared. 

Schooner  Robert  Hartwell,  from  Antigua  for  Ber 
muda,  laden  with  sugar  and  molasses,  valued  at  $20,000, 
was  sent  into  Newbern  by  the  cutter  Hero,  of  New 
York. 

Brig  Liddelle,  from  Liverpool  for  Newfoundland, 
with  salt,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore,  and 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Jessie,  of  6  guns,  from  London  for  Newfound 
land,  laden  with  bread,  porter,  etc.,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Ann,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  dry-goods, 
captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her  effects,  and  sent, 
as  a  cartel,  to  Halifax. 

The  Diomede,  after  making  many  prizes,  was  herself 
captured  and  sent  into  Halifax,  June  25th. 

Several  valuable  prizes  made  by  the  Amelia,  were 
manned  and  ordered  into  port.  She  arrived  at  New 
York,  after  a  cruise  of  85  days,  during  which  time  she 
had  taken  1,400  tons  of  shipping,  with  property  valued 
at  $1,000,000.  She  also  made  80  prisoners. 

Two  vessels  were  captured  by  the  Hero,  of  New  York, 
on  her  voyage  from  France,  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Octavia,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the 
Harrison,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Funchall,  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into 
Newbern,  N.  C.,  by  the  Hero,  of  New  York. 

The  private  armed  schooner  Perry,  of  Baltimore,  was 
out  ninety  days  on  a  cruise,  during  which  time  she  cap 
tured  22  British  vessels,  18  of  which  she  destroyed,  and 
sent  4  to  the  United  States.  The  editor  here  remarks, 
that  if  our  government  would  employ  fifteen  or  twenty 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  237 

such  vessels  to  carry  the  war  to  the  British  coasts,  it 
would  terribly  annoy  our  enemy.  Twenty  of  these 
schooners  properly  fitted  and  manned,  might  dash  across 
the  Atlantic,  and  destroy  two  or  three  hundred  vessels 
on  the  coast  of  England,  before  their  presence  would  be 
suspected.  If  the  enemy's  ships  of  war  were  too  thick 
for  them,  they  might  return  home  with  very  little  loss, 
probably  not  more  than  two  or  three  of  them  would  be 
captured. 

July  23d — The  privateer  Surprise,  of  Baltimore, 
arrived  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  from  a  cruise  of  103 
days,  a  .part  of  which  time  she  was  in  the  British 
and  Irish  Channels,  and  near  the  Western  Isles.  She 
was  chased  16  times,  and  made  in  all  13  prizes,  some  of 
which  arrived  safe,  several  others  were  burnt. 

The  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore,  in  passing  through 
Long  Island  Sound,  was  attacked  by  two  British  boats  ; 
she  captured  one  with  eight  men,  the  other  made  her 
escape.  The  commander  of  the  barge  was  killed;  and 
buried  at  New  London,  where  the  prisoners  were 
landed. 

Charleston,  July  2lst. — The  privateer  schooner  Saucy 
Jack,  opened  a  rendezvous  yesterday  at  11  o'clock,  for 
the  enlistment  of  her  crew.  Before  5  P.M.  one  hundred 
and  thirty  able-bodied  seamen  were  shipped  in  six  hours, 
and  ready  to  engage  in  the  glories  and  dangers  of  an 
Atlantic  cruise.  Probably  such  a  thing  is  unprece 
dented  even  in  this  country,  so  remarkable  -for  maritime 
enterprise  and  dispatch. 

The  elegant  ship  London  packet,  12  guns,  laden  with 
400  pipes  of  brandy  and  wine,  sent  into  an  eastern  port 
by  the  Chasseur,  of  Baltimore. 

The  British  brig  Astrea,  with  10  guns  and  20  men,  laden  0 


238  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

with  fish,  was  taken  by  the  Midas,  and  sent  into  Sa 
vannah. 

On  the  return  of  the  privateer  Midas,  from  a  cruise, 
when  off  Tybee  light,  she  fell  in  with  and  captured  a 
small  English  schooner  privateeer,  called  the  Dash  ;  she 
was  armed  with  one  long  gun,  and  several  small  ones, 
with  a  crew  of  40  men. 

Previous  to  her  capture  she  had  taken  and  manned  3 
coasting  vessels  belongingto  Savannah,  laden  with  cotton  ; 
the  cargoes  of  the  three,  inclusive,  was  700  bales.  The 
Midas  immediately  sailed  in  pursuit  of  them,  and  had 
the  good  fortune  to  return  to  Savannah  with  the  three 
coasters,  after  an  absence  of  five  days. 

Schooner  Union,  with  fish,  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  port  by 
the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Friendship,  with  dry-goods,  and  $7,000  in 
specie,  captured  by  the.  Revenge,  divested  and  de 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Alert,  captured  by  the  same,  and  de 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Mary  Ann,  taken  by  the  same,  divested,  and 
given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Sloop  Active,  captured  by  the  Fairy,  of  Baltimore, 
and  burnt. 

Brig  Lord  Nelson,  of  Belfast,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  with 
jerk  beef,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Fancy,  and  two  others  whose  names  are 
not  known,  captured  by  the  same,  divested,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  -  — ,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and 
made  a  cartel  for  prisoners. 

Beside  the  before-mentioned  vessels,  two  other  small 
vessels  were  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt  ;  the  Zebec 
also  made  prizes  of  five  or  six  other  British  vessels, 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  239 

which  were  permitted  to  proceed.  A  brig  of  14  guns 
was  manned,  and  ordered  for  France,  and  two  others 
were  sent  to  the  United  States. 

Portuguese  ship  St.  Jose,  from  Liverpool  for  Rio 
Janeiro,  with  dry-goods,  hardware,  etc.,  valued  at 
$500,000  or  $600,000,  said  to  be  British  property,  sent 
into  Portland  by  the  Yankee  of  Bristol. 

Privateer  schooner  Amnesty,  one  gun,  24  men,  cap 
tured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  Tickler,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N".  C.,  by  the 
same, 

Schooner  Rambler,  with  dry-goods,  sent  into  Wilming 
ton,  N.  0.,  by  the  Perry,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Fairy,  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  2  guns 
mounted,  and  6  in  the  hold,  laden  with  flour,  sent  into 
Wilmington,  1ST.  C.,  by  the  same. 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  Bulaboo,  of  6  guns 
and  30  men,  captured  by  the  same,  after  some  resistance, 
and  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

The  ship  Friendship,  under  Swedish  colors,  from 
London  for  Lisbon,  with  a  cargo  invoiced  at  £100,000, 
sterling,  supposed  to  be  British  property,  sent  into  Wil 
mington,  1ST.  C.,  by  the  Herald,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Hugh  Jones,  from  Belfast  for  Guadeloupe,  with 
a  full  cargo  of  valuable  goods,  captured  by  the  Yankee, 
divested,  and  ordered  into  port.  This  privateer  had 
safely  arrived  from  her  fifth  successful  cruise. 

Schooner  Fox,  captured  off  the  Irish  coast  by  the 
Surprise,  was  made  a  cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  James  and  David,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 
same.  She  being  of  small  value,  was  allowed  to  proceed 
on  her  voyage. 

Brig  Fidelity,  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Ellen,   from  Belfast,   Ireland,    for    Lisbon, 


240  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

laden  with  beef,  pork,  and  lard,  sent  into  Beaufort,  N. 
C.,  by  the  Herald  of  New  York. 

Brig  Duke  of  York,  of  Greenock,  captured  by  the 
General  Armstrong,  of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  George,  taken  in  sight  of  Ireland,  by  the  same, 
and  sunk. 

Brig  Swift,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and  made 
a  cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Defiance,  with  whiskey,  butter,  and  bread,  for 
Lisbon,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Friendship,  with  a  similar  cargo,  taken  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Stag,  with  a  very  fall  and  very  valuable  cargo  of 
dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  some^articles, 
and  burnt,  a  British  frigate,  brig  and  schooner,  being  in 
sight.  The  privateer  had  only  time  to  take  a  few  valu 
able  articles. 

Ship  Dorcas,  cut  out  of  Anguilla,  by  the  boats  of  the 
General  Armstrong,  and  sunk. 

During  the  last  cruise  of  the  General  Armstrong,  she 
made  several  prizes,  three  of  which  were  very  valuable. 
These  she  manned,  and  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  first 
port  in  the  United  States.  She  arrived  at  New  York, 
having  on  board  a  large  amount  of  valuable  merchan 
dize,  taken  from  the  enemy. 

Ship  Berry  Castle,  6  guns,  with  barilla  and  some  wine, 
captured  by  the  Yankee,  who  took  out  the  wine,  threw 
her  armament  overboard,  and  let  her  go. 

Schooner  Linnet,  with  fish  and  oil,  captured  by 
the  Snap-Dragon,  of  Newbern,  and  sent  into  that 
port. 

Schooner  -  — ,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her 
valuable  articles,  and  burnt. 

Six  vessels  captured  in  the  English  channel,  and  sent 


IS14.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  241 

into  Havre  de  Grace,  France,  by  the  Prince  of  Neuf- 
chatel 

By  Loyd's  List,  the  3d  of  June,  there  were  thirty- 
seven  British  merchant  vessels  captured  by  American 
privateers,  all  within  a  few  weeks  ;  some  of  them  were 
reported  to  be  very  valuable  ;  many  of  these  prizes  were 
destroyed,  others  divested  of  their  cargoes,  while  the 
most  valuable  portion  of  them  were  sent  to  the  United 
States. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  in  Boston  bay,  the  priva 
teers  Grampus,  Patapsco,  of  Baltimore,  and  the  schooner 
Dasli,  of  Boston,  were  all  chased  by  Captain  Chapel,  in 
the  La  Hogue,  .seventy-four.  Although  hard  pushed  for 
some  time,  the}^  were  fortunate  enough  to  make  their 
escape.  Captain  Chapel,  during  the  pursuit,  imagined 
he  had  one  or  more  of  them  within  his  grasp,  and  when 
he  found  they  had  all  made  good  their  retreat,  it  is  said, 
he  was  highly  exasperated  at  their  impudent  audacity, 
and,  of  course,  damned  all  the  Yankees  that  infested  the 
ocean  without  a  British  license. 


DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  PRINCE  DE  NEUF- 
CHATEL,  OF  NEW  YORK,  COMMANDED  BY  CAPTAIN  QRDRONAUX. 
AND  A  LA.RGE  NUMBER  OF  BOATS,  BELONGING  TO  A  BRITISH  MAN- 
OF-WAR.  * 


The  Prince  de  Neufchatel  was  a  splendid  vessel,  of  3 1  0 
tons  burthen,  hermaphrodite  rigged,  mounting  17  guns, 
with  blunderbusses,  muskets,  boarding  pikes,  etc.  Her 
full  complement  of  men,  including  officers  and  marines, 
probably  amounted  to  150  souls,  when  she  left  New 
York. 

She  was  a  most  fortunate  vessel,  and  made  several  suc 
cessful  cruises  during  the  war,  causing  great  loss  to  the 

°  Src  note  on  page  4fi6. 

10 


242  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS  [1814. 

enemy.  She  was  chased  by  17  men-of-war  during  her 
present  cruise,  and  escaped  them  all. 

The  goods  she  brought  to  the  United  States  were  esti 
mated  to  be  worth  from  $250,000  to  $300,000,  besides 
having  on  board  a  considerable  amount  of  specie. 

At  noon,  on  the  llth  of  October,  off  Naritucket,  that 
island  bearing  north,  distant  about  half  a  mile,  Captain 
Ordronaux  discovered  a  frigate  off  Gay  Hoad,  which  gave 
chase  to  him,  and  while  the  privateer  lay  becalmed,  the 
frigate  took  a  fresh  breeze  and  came  up  very  fast. 

At  3  P.M.,  the  Neufchatel  got  the  breeze,  and  took 
her  prize,  the  ship  Douglass,  in  tow  ;  the  frigate,  at  the 
same  time,  about  12  miles  from  the  privateer. 

At  7  in  the  evening,  it  fell  calm,  when  the  privateer 
and  her  prize  came  to  anchor  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  each  other,  as  the  current  was  sweeping  them  on 
shore. 

At  half-past  8  P.M.,  a  signal  was  made  from  the  prize 
that  several  boats  were  corning  from  the  frigate  to  attack 
them.  All  hands  were  then  called  to  quarters,  and  every 
preparation  made  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 

As  the  boats  drew  near,  the  privateer  commenced  firing, 
which  the  enemy  disregarded,  and  were  soon  alongside. 
The  boats  were  five  in  number,  one  on  each  side,  one  on 
each  bow,  and  one  under  the  stern. 

A  warm  action  then  took  place,  with  muskets,  pistols, 
cutlasses,  etc.  In  every  attempt  the  enemy  made  to 
board,  he  was  promptly  met  and  repulsed. 

About  twenty  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  the  enemy  cried  out  for  quarters,  which  were 
granted. 

Of  the  five  barges  (which  contained  111  men.  includ 
ing  officers  and  marines),  one  was  sunk,  with  43  men,  of 
whom  only  two  were  saved  ;  three  drifted  off  from  along- 


1814.J  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  243 

side,  apparently  with  no  living  soul  on  board  ;  one  was 
taken  possession  of.  She  contained  36  men  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action,  of  whom  8  were  killed,  20 
wounded,  and  8  unhurt.  It  was  then  ascertained  that 
they  were  from  the  British  frigate  Endymion.  They  were 
all  armed  with  blunderbusses,  pistols,  muskets,  boarding 
pikes  and  cutlasses. 

The  second  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  (F.  Ormond, 
who  was  unhurt),  3  midshipmen,  two  of  whom  were 
severely  wounded,  with  one  master's  mate  also  wounded, 
were  permitted  to  come  on  board.  The  remainer  of  the 
prisoners  (15  seamen  and  marines),  were  kept  astern  all 
night  in  the  launch  ;  after  taking  out  the  arms,  oars, 
etc.,  the  commander  being  afraid  to  trust  them  on  board, 
having  only  8  men  fit  for  duty,  while  there  were  37 
prisoners  confined  below. 

The  Prince  de  Neufchatel,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  had  only  thirty-three  men,  including  officers  at 
quarters.  After  the  battle  was  over,  it  was  found  that 
six  of  the  privateer's  crew  were  killed  ;  also  Mr.  Charles 
Hilburn,  a  Nantucket  pilot,  taken  out  of  a  fishing  vessel. 
There  were  also  fifteen  severely  wounded,  nine  slightly, 
and  eight  unhurt. 

The  next  morning,  the  lieutenant,  midshipman,  and 
master's  mate,  signed  an  agreement  in  behalf  of  them 
selves,  the  seamen  and  marines  pledging  their  honors 
not  to  serve  against  the  United  States  during  the  war 
unless  regularly  exchanged,  and  were  then  towed  on 
shore  at  Nantucket  in  the  privateer's  launch. 

Shortly  after,  Captain  Ordronaux  sent  fifteen  of  his 
other  prisoners,  and  fifteen  of  his  own  men  who  were 
wounded,  on  shore. 

All  the  prisoners  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  United 
States  Marshal.  In  his  enfeebled  situation.  Captain  Or- 


244  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

dronaux  got  under  way  and  proceeded  to  Boston,  at 
which  place  he  arrived  on  the  15th  October. 

It  was  subsequently  ascertained  by  persons  from  Nan- 
tucket,  that  the  British  acknowledged  a  loss  of  33  killed, 
37  wounded,  and  30  made  prisoners. 

Among  the  killed  were  the  first  lieutenant,  and  a  mas 
ter's  mate.  The  third  lieutenant,  two  master's  mates, 
and  one  midshipman  were  wounded. 

The  commander  of  the  frigate  said  he  had  lost  as 
many  men  as  he  should  have  done  if  engaged  with  a  ves 
sel  equal  in  force  to  his  own,  and  gave  great  credit  to 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  privateer,  for  their  gallant 
defence. 

He  had  111  men  in  the  attack.  He  said  that  a  part 
of  his  men  succeeded  in  gaining  the  deck  of  the  Prince 
de  jNTeufchatel,  but  that  the  Americans  then  rallied  and 
drove  them  overboard. 

The  foregoing  was  one  of  the  hardest  fought  battles 
that  occurred  during  the  war,  considering  the  number  of 
men  acting  on  the  defensive. 

PRIZES   CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig ,  from  Madeira,  for  Liverpool,  captured  by 

the  Rambler,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  to  Canton.  She 
was  divested  of  80  or  90  casks  of  wine,  and  given  up, 
not  having  men  enough  to  send  her  to  the  United 
States. 

Frig  Fortitude,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  hides,  coffee,  dye-wood,  etc.,  sent  into  Union  River, 
Maine,  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  George  Canning,  from  Spain,  for  England, 
laden  with  merino,  wool  and  fruit,  captured  by  the  Gen 
eral  Armstrong,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Thomastown. 

Ship  Pizarro,  from  Liverpool,  for  Amelia  Island,  with 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  245 

dry-goods,  crates,  copper  and  salt,  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  Midas,  of  Baltimore . 

Brig  Espiranza,  from  Amelia  Island  for  Havana,  with 
cotton,  rice,  and  flour,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Midas, 
of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Elsinore,  from  Turk's  Island  for  Amelia  Islanl, 
with  salt,  sent  into  the  same  port  by  the  Midas. 

The  privateer  Harrison,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the 
following  British  vessels  :  ship  Julia,  brig  Mary  Ann, 
schooner  John  Duncan,  -  — Louisa.  After  removing 
from  the  prizes  to  the  privateer,  valuable  goods  to  the 
amount  of  £18,000  or  £20,000,  sterling,  she  gave 
up  two  of  them  and  destroyed  the  others. 

Schooner  -  — ,  with  a  large  amount  of  specie  on 
board,  captured  by  the  same,  and  manned  for  the  United 
States.  The  Harrison  arrived  safe  at  Savannah  with 
her  rich  spoils. 

Brig  Betsy,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  from  Newfoundland 
for  Barbadoes,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  York,  of  Balti 
more. 

Ship  Alfred,  in  ballast,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by 
the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore. 

Ship  Antonia,  under  Russian  colors,  from  Lisbon  for 
St.  Michaels,  laden  with  dry-goods,  brandy,  some 
hardware  and  crockery,  sent  to  a  southern  port  by  the 
same. 

Two  brigs  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 


CAPTURE   OF   THE    BRITISH  PACKET  PRINCESS  ELIZABETH  BY  THE 
PRIVATEER  HARPY,  OF  BALTIMORE. 

In  September  the  Harpy  fell  in  with  the  British 
packet  Princess  Elizabeth,  and  after  a  warm  but  short 
action,  the  packet  surrendered.  She  had  three  men 


246  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

killed,  and  several  wounded,  and  was  much  cut  up  in 
her  sails  and  rigging.  The  privateer  had  one  man 
killed. 

The  Princess  Elizabeth  was  armed  with  10  guns,  and 
38  men,  8  twelve-pound  carronades,  and  2  long  brass 
nine-pounders  ;  she  had  on  board  as  passengers,  a  Turk 
ish  Ambassador,  for  England,  an  English  officer,  Aid  to1 
a  British  General,  and  a  second  lieutenant  of  a  "  74. " 
The  privateer  divested  the  packet  of  $10,000  in  specie, 
and  five  pipes  of  Madeira  wine,  with  two  long  brass,  and 
two  iron  guns  ;  the  remainder  of  her  armament  she 
threw  overboard,  and  ransomed  the  vessel  for  $2,000, 
and  then  allowed  her  to  proceed  on  her  course  to  Eng 
land. 

Ship  Hero,  from  ISTewfoundland,  with  4,333  quintals 
of  cod-fish,  sent  into  Hyannis  by  the  Ida,  of  Boston. 

East  India  Company's  ship  Countess  of  Harcourt,  520 
tons,  6  heavy  guns,  and  90  men,  outward  bound,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  brandy,  rum,  gin,  etc.,  separated  from 
the  fleet  in  a  gale,  and  captured  in  the  British  Channel 
by  the  Sabine  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  a  southern 
port.  This  British  East  Indiaman  was  a  very  valuable 
prize  to  her  captors. 

His  Majesty's    packet  ,  the  cutter    Landraile,   - 
guns,   33    men,    captured   after  a  hard   battle,   in  the 
British  Channel  by   the  Syren,  of  Baltimore,  divested, 
and  the  prisoners  taken  to  New  York. 

Two  brigs  captured  by  the  same  ;  one  burnt,  the  other 
released,  after  having  first  despoiled  her  of  the  most  val 
uable  part  of  her  cargo. 

Fourteen  enemy's  vessels,  captured  in  the  British 
Channel  by  the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  New  York,  di 
vested  them  of  their  valuable  articles,  and  destroyed 
them.  The  privateer  had  also  taken  six  other  prizes  ; 


1814.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  247 


some  she  burnt,  and  some  of  the  most  valuable  she  sent 
to  the  United  States. 

Brig  Betsey  and  Mary,  from  Spain  for  London,  with 
wool,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  divested 
of  105  bales  of  merino  wool,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Calypso,  under  Swedish  colors,  and  with  Swedish 
papers,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  30  bales  of 
dry-goods,  and  $3,000  in  specie,  belonging  to  the  pay 
master  of  the  41st  regiment  (who  was  paroled),  and  suf 
fered  to  proceed. 

Brig  New  Frederick,  from  Smyrna  for  Hull,  captured 
by  the  Kemp  (and  out  of  humanity  to  an  Italian 
lady),  permitted  to  proceed,  after  divesting  her  of 
some  articles.  The  Kemp  arrived  at  North  Carolina, 
from  Nantes.  She  obtained  her  cargo,  from  the  enemy 
which  was  exceedingly  valuable.  She  was  a  letter-of- 
marque,  belonging  to  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Contract,  laden  with  salt,  sent  into  North 
Carolina  by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk. 

His  Majesty's  transport,  brig  Doris,  captured  by  the 
Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  sent  into  Marblehead.  The 
Doris  was  from  Senegal,  bound  to  Portsmouth,  England, 
and  had  on  board  30  or  40  soldiers,  also  two  elegant 
horses,  one  hyena,  two  jackalls,  etc.,  presents  for  the 
Prince  Regent. 

Ship  Hoppet,  and  brig  Eliza,  from  Amelia  Island, 
bound  to  England,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Saury 
Jack,  of  Charleston. 

The  London  Gazette  of  June  21st,  officially  announced 
the  capture  of  the  American  privateers  Hawk  and  Polly, 
by  two  frigates. 

The  David  Porter,  privateer,  arrived  at  New  York  ; 
was  chased  nine  hundred  and  forty  miles,  by  a  frigate 
and  two  sloops  of  war. 


248  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

The  Mammoth,  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  was  dealing 
destruction  to  the  enemy's  commerce,  off  the  coast  of 
Newfoundland.  She  had  an  action  with  an  English 
transport  ship,  with  three  or  four  hundred  troops  on 
board.  The  privateer  had  one  man  wounded,  and  find 
ing  the  transport  had  too  many  men  with  muskets,  she 
hauled  off  and  continued  on  her  cruise,  for  something 
more  valuable. 

The  York,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  Boston,  filled 
with  the  richest  spoils  of  several  vessels,  among  them, 
the  East  India  ship  Coromandel,  of  500  tons. 

The  privateer  Surprize,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at 
Salem,  after  a  fortunate  cruise  of  one  month,  during 
which  time  she  captured  twenty  British  vessels  ;  some 
of  them  were  valuable,  these  she  ordered  into  port  ; 
the  remainder,  amounting  to  eight  or  ten,  she  destroy 
ed  :  and  after  loading  the  privateer  with  valuable  goods, 
she  returned  into  port  to  discharge  her  cargo  and  refit 
for  another  cruise. 

Schooner  Mary,  with  dry-goods,  valued  at  £3,000, 
sterling,  from  Jamaica  for  St.  Domingo  ;  sent  into  New 
Orleans  by  the  Shark,  of  New  York. 

Brig  Maria  Wirman,  from  Havana  for  Scotland,  with 
1500  or  1600  boxes  of  sugar  ;  sent  into  Hyannis  by 
the  Yankee,  of  Bristol.  This  vessel  was  called  a 
Swede,  but  her  cargo  was  found  to  be  British  prop 
erty. 

Cutter  Wasp,  captured  by  the  Rattlesnake,  privateer, 
off  the  English  coast,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Dover,  of  London,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

British  brig  Pike,  captured  by  the  privateer  Pike,  of 
Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  from  St.  John's,  N.  B.,   divested  of 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  249 

her  valuable  articles  by  the  Pike,  and  made  a  cartel  of, 
to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

British  schooner  Industrious  Bee,  captured  also  by 
the  Pike,  and  burnt. 

Schooners  Yenus,  Lord  Nelson,  and  brig  Jane,  also 
taken  by  the  Pike  ;  the  last,  with  provisions  and  dry- 
goods  ;  divested  of  part  of  her  cargo,  and  made  a  cartel 
of,  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners.  The  other  two  ordered 
into  a  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Orient,  from  Portsmouth,  England,  for  Teneriffe, 
with  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same  privateer ;  di 
vested  of  her  valuable  goods,  and  sunk. 

Brig  John,  from  London  for  Teneriffe,  taken  by  the 
same,  and  burnt,  within  long-gun-shot  of  a  British  man- 
of-war  brig. 

The  Pike  captured  several  other  vessels,  which  were 
released  or  made  cartels  of.  This  privateer  was  subse 
quently  chased  ashore,  on  the  southern  coast,  and 
taken  possession  of  by  some  of  the  enemy's  vessels, 
A  part  of  the  crew,  however,  escaped  ;  the  remainder, 
forty-three  in  number,  were  made  prisoners.  She 
paroled  250  prisoners  during  her  cruise. 

A  British  brig  and  a  schooner  sent  into  Ocracock,  la 
den  with  fish  ;  by  the  Herald,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Samuel  Cummings,  400  tons,  laden  with  sugar 
and  coffee  ;  taken  by  the  Pike,  of  Baltimore,  but 
wrecked  on  the  southern  coast :  part  of  the  cargo  was 
saved. 

Ship  Five  Sisters,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Dash  ;  divested  of  200  puncheons  of  Jamaica 
rum,  and  permitted  to  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

Schooner -,  taken  by  the  Leech,  of  Salem,  and 

ransomed. 

Brig ,  200  tons,  an  assorted  cargo,  estimated  to 


250  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

be  worth  $30,000  ;   sent  into  Newbern  by  the  Hero,  of 
that  place. 

Brig  Mars,  from  Mogadore,  captured  by  the  David 
Porter,  of  Boston  (the  Whig,  of  Baltimore,  in  com 
pany)  ;  divested  of  a  considerable  part  of  her  cargo,  and 
ordered  to  a  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Cornwallis,  taken  by  the  same  5  divested,  and 
made  a  cartel  of. 

Ship  Tester  from  Rio  Janeiro  for  England,  6  guns  ; 
captured  by  the  David  Porter  ;  divested  of  her  least 
bulky  and  most  valuable  articles,  and  ordered  into  port. 

Brig  Horatio,  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  for  England,  taken 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  ransomed  for  a  bill  of  exchange 
on  England  for  $20,000  ;  cargo  of  hides  and  tallow. 
During  her  cruise,  the  David  Porter  made  several  other 
prizes. 

Brig  Endeavour,  a  transport  vessel,  laden  with  sails, 
anchors,  army  stores  and  coal,  captured  by  the  Surprise, 
of  Baltimore,  and  destroyed  on  Rockaway  beach,  near 
New  York,  by  the  British  men-of-war.  Cargo  partially 
saved. 

Cutter  Jubilee,  from  Teneriffe,  with  wine,  captured  by 
the  Whig,  divested  of  part  of  her  cargo,  and  made  a 
cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Schooner  Alexandria,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same 
and  burnt. 

British  brig  Irish  Minor,"  captured  by  the  Whig,  and 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Princess  Mary,  from  Ireland,  for  London,  with 
government  provisions  ;  also  captured  by  the  Whig,  and 
destroyed. 

Brig  Eliza,  from  the  same  place,  to  the  same  port,  also 
captured  by  the  Whig  ;  cargo  thrown  overboard  and 
vessel  made  a  cartel  of. 


181 1.1  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  251 

British  Schooner  Esperance,  from  -  — ,  for  Corurma, 
Spain,  captured  by  the  same  and  destroyed. 

Ship  London,  from  Merimachi,  for  Liverpool,  with  tim 
ber,  also  captured  by  the  Whig  and  burnt. 

Ship  Postethwell,  from  Cork,  for  Merimachi,  in  bal- 
Jast,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

The  Whig  made  several  other  prizes  on  this  cruise, 
arid  arrived  at  New  York  with  some  goods,  and  23 
prisoners.  She  also  made  some  prizes  in  company  with 
the  David  Porter. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Liverpool,  for  Halifax,  laden  with 
dry-goods,  captured  by  the  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth, 
divested  of  318  bales  and  packages  of  goods,  invoiced 
at  £27,000,  sterling,  and  ordered  into  port.  This  was 
a  great  prize.  The  privateer,  with  her  rich  spoils,  safely 
arrived.  (See  Appendix.) 

A  sloop,  from  Halifax,  captured  also  by  the  Ports 
mouth,  divested  of  her  valuable  goods,  and  given  up  to 
the  prisoners. 

Schooner  Columbia,  from  Halifax,  for  Barbadoes,  with 
fish  and  lumber,  worth  $4,000,  captured  and  sent  into 
Newburyport,  by  the  Portsmouth. 

Brig  Fire  Fly,  from  Smyrna,  for  London,  with  a  full 
cargo  of  drugs,  wines  and  silks,  brought  into  Wilming 
ton,  North  Carolina,  by  the  Sabine,  of  Baltimore. 
The  privateer  safely  arrived,  and  had  on  board  the 
optima  spolia  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  She  took  goods 
to  the  amount  of  $100,000. 

Brig  Mary  and  Eliza,  from  Halifax,  laden  with  lum 
ber,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Argo,  of  Baltimore,  and 
chased  ashore  near  Barnegat,  where  she  was  burnt. 

Schooner  -  — ,  with  a  cargo  of  provisions,  sent  into 
an  eastern  port  by  the  same  privateer  Portsmouth,  of 
Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


252  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

Brig  Argo,  from  Dublin,  with  100  puncheons  of  Irish 
whiskey,  a  quantity  of  port  wine  and  provisions,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  -  — ,  laden  with  rum  and 'molasses,  sent  into  a 
southern  port  by  the  Grampus,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Farmer,  with  provisions,  captured  by  the  Mam 
moth,  of  Baltimore,  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  and 
sunk. 

The  Mammoth  also  captured  brig  Britannia,  from  St. 
Andrews,  for  Liverpool,  with  lumber  ;  she  not  being  of 
much  value,  was  destroyed  by  the  captors. 

Three  other  brigs,  in  ballast,  bound  to  Pictou  and 
Merimachi,  were  captured  by  the  same  privateer  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Ceres,  of  Glasgow,  with  brandy,  etc.,  divested 
and  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners,  by  the  same. 

The  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the  fol 
lowing  vessels,  namely  :  The  British  brig  Harvest,  laden 
with  furs,  seal  skins,  oil  and  salmon,  and  manned  her 
for  the  United  States.  British  brig  William.  10  guns, 
and  14  men,  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  with  350  tons  of 
sugar,  with  a  large  quantity  of  coffee,  and  sundry  other 
articles  ;  ordered  her  into  an  American  port.  The  brig 
Rover,  from  Havana,  for  Guernsey,  laden  with'  sugar 
and  coffee,  sent  her  to  a  port  in  the  United  States. 
Sloop  Regulator,  of  Nantucket,  re-captured  by  the 
York  ;  she  had  a  valuable  cargo,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Chatham,  Cape  Cod. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

A  SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE-SCHOONER  LEO,    GEORGE  COGGESHALL,  COM 
MANDER,  FROM  L'ORIENT  TO  CHARLESTON,  AND  HER  CAPTURE  IN  THE  TEARS  1814  AND 

1815 — PREPARE    AND  FIT    OUT  THE    LEO  AT    L' ORIENT — DISARMED   BY  ORDER  OF   THE 

FRENCH    GOVERNMENT — SAIL    FROM  L'ORIENT — PROCEED   TO  THE  ENGLISH  CHANNEL 

CAPTURE  SEVERAL  PRIZES — COMPELLED  TO  LEAVE  THE  CHANNEL  AND  STEER  TO  THE 
SOUTHWARD,  ON  ACCOUNT  OF  BEING  BADLY  ARMED,  AND  VERY  DEFICIENT  IN  SAILS 
AND  RIGGING — ARRIVE  OFF  LISBON — DISMASTED  WHILE  IN  CHASE  OF  A  BRITISH 
PACKET — TAKEN  BY  THE  GRANICUS  FRIGATE,  AND  TOWED  ROUND  TO  GIBRALTAR — 
PROCEED  IN  THE  GRANICUS  TO  TETUAN  BAY,  MOROCCO — RETURN  TO  GIBRALTAR — 
REFUSAL  OF  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  THAT  PLACE  TO  PAROLE  CAPTAIN  AND  OFFICERS — EX 
AMINATION  AT  THE  ADMIRALTY  OFFICE — ESCAPE  FROM  THE  GARRISON — GO  ON  BOARD 
A  NORWEGIAN  GALLIOT — HUBBUB  AND  CONFUSION  IN  GIBRALTAR  TO  FIND  THE  CAP 
TAIN  OF  THE  LEO — TAKE  PASSAGE  TO  ALGECIRAS  WITH  A  GANG  OF  SMUGGLERS — RE 
SIDE  WITH  THE  FAMILY  OF  THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GANG AIDED  AND  PROTECTED  BY 

THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL,  HORATIO  SPRAGUE,  ESQ. — LEAVE  ALGECIRAS,  IN  DISGUISE, 
FOR  CADIZ— REMARKS  ON  THAT  REGION  OF  COUNTRY— ARRIVE  AT  CADIZ— KIND  RE 
CEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE  BY  HIS  OLD  FRIENDS  AND  COUNTRYMEN — RESIDENCE  AT 
CADIZ— THEATRES  AND  BULL- FIGHTS —SAIL  FROM  CADIZ  FOR  LISBON  IN  A  PORTU 
GUESE  VESSEL. 


CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  LEO,  FROM  I/ORIENT 
TO  CHARLESTON,  WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  HER  CAPTURE. 

The  Leo  was  a  fine  Baltimore  built  vessel  of  320  tons, 
a  remarkably  fast  sailer,  and  in  every  respect  a  superior 
vessel.  She  was  lying  in  the  harbor  of  L'Orient  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1814,  and  was  then  owned  by  Tho  nas 
Lewis,  Esq.,  an  American  gentleman,  residing  in  Bor 
deaux.  On  the  2nd  of  November,  she  was  purchased  by 
an  association  of  American  gentlemen  (then  in  France), 
placed  under  my  command,  and  her  commission  as  a  let- 
ter-of-marque  indorsed  over  to  me  under  the  sanction  of 
the  Hon.  William  H.  Crawford,  who  was  at  that  time 
our  Minister  at  Paris.  It  was  determined  that  I  should 
make  a  short  cruise  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  a  few 

(2-33) 


254  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

prizes  from  the  enemy,  and  then  proceed  to  Charleston 
for  a  cargo  of  cotton,  and  return  to  France  as  soon  as 
possible. 

As  there  were  at  this  time  quite  a  number  of  Ameri 
can  seamen  in  Bordeaux,  Nantes  and  L'Orient,  supported 
by  the  government  of  the  United  States,  through  the 
consuls  at  those  ports,  it  was  desirable  to  take  home  as 
many  of  them  as  the  schooner  could  conveniently  accom 
modate.  1  took  with  me,  as  first  officer,  Mr.  Pierre  Gr. 
Depeyster,  and  left  Bordeaux  by  diligence,  for  L'Orient. 
On  our  way  we  stopped  a  day  or  two  at  Nantes,  where 
I  engaged,  with  the  consent  of  our  consul  at  that  port. 
forty  seamen  and  two  petty  officers. 

Mr.  Azor  0.  Lewis,  a  fine  young  man,  brother  of  the 
former  owner  of  the  Leo,  was  one  of  my  prize  masters, 
and  to  him  I  committed  the  charge  of  bringing  about 
forty  more  seamen  from  Bordeaux  to  L'Orient.  The  res 
idue  of  the  officers  and  men  were  picked  up  at  L'Orient, 
with  the  exception  of  four  or  five  of  my  petty  officers, 
who  came  up  from  Bordeaux  to  join  the  schooner  at 
L'Orient. 

Early  in  November  we  commenced  fitting  her  for  sea. 
We  found  her  hull  in  pretty  good  order,  but  her  sails 
and  rigging  were  in  a  bad  state.  I,  however,  set  every 
thing  in  motion,  as  actively  as  possible,  and  put  in  requi 
sition  sailmakers,  blockmakers,  blacksmiths,  etc.,  etc.  ; 
while  others  w^ere  employed  taking  in  ballast  and  filling 
water  casks,  in  fine,  hurrying  on  as  fast  as  possible,  be 
fore  we  should  be  stopped. 

The  English  had  so  much  influence  with  the  new  gov 
ernment  of  Louis  XVIII.  that  I  felt  extremely  anxious 
to  get  out  on  the  broad  ocean  without  delay,  and  there 
fore  drove  on  my  preparations  almost  night  and  day. 

After  ballasting,  T  took  on  board  3  tors  of  bread,   30 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  255 

barrels  of  beef,  15  ditto  of  pork,  and  other  stores  to  cor 
respond,  being  enough  for  fifty  days. 

I  got  ready  for  sea  on  the  6th  of  November.  My  crew, 
including  the  officers  and  marines,  numbered  about  one 
hundred  souls,  and  a  better  set  of  officers  and  men  never 
left  the  port  of  L'Orient.  But  we  were  miserably  arm 
ed  ;  we  had,  when  I  first  took  command  of  the  schooner, 
one  long  brass  12-pounder,  and  four  small  4-pounders, 
with  some  fifty  or  sixty  poor  muskets.  Those  concerned 
in  the  vessel  seemed  to.  think  we  ought,  with  so  many 
men,  to  capture  prizes  enough,  even  without  guns. 

With  this  miserable  armament,  I  was  now  ready  for 
sea,  and  had  dropped  the  schooner  down  near  the  mouth 
of  the  outer  harbor,  and  was  only  waiting  for  my  papers 
from  Paris,  to  proceed  on  my  intended  voyage  ;  when 
to  my  severe  mortification,  I  was  ordered  by  the  public 
authorities  to  return  into  port,  and  disarm  the  vessel. 
The  order  was  imperative,  and  I  was  of  course  compelled 
to  obejr.  I  accordingly  waited  on  the  commanding  offi 
cer  of  the  port,  and  told  him  it  was  a  hard  case  not  to 
allow  me  sufficient  arms  to  defend  my  vessel  against  the 
boats  of  the  enemy. 

He  politely  told  me  he  was  sorry,  but  that  he  must 
obey  the  orders  of  his  government,  and  that  I  must  take  out 
all  the  guns  except  one,  and  at  the  same  time  laughingly 
observed  that  one  gun  was  enough  to  take  a  dozen  Eng 
lish  ships  before  I  got  to  Charleston. 

I,  of  course,  kept  the  long  12-pounder,  and  in  the  night 
smuggled  on  board  some  twenty  or  thirty  muskets.  In 
this  situation  I  left  the  port  of  L'Orient,  on  the  8th  of 
November.  1814,  and  stood  out  to  sea  in  the  hope  of 
capturing  a  few  prizes.  After  getting  to  sea  we  rubbed 
up  the  muskets,  and  with  this  feeble  armament  steered 
for  the  chops  of  the  British  Channel.  I  soon  found  that 


256  THE     AMERICAN      PRIVATEERS.  [1SJ4 

when  the  weather  was  good  and  the  sea  smooth,  I  could 
take  merchantmen  enough  by  boarding  ;  but  in  rough 
weather  the  travelling  12-pounder  was  but  a  poor  reli 
ance,  and  not  to  be  depended  upon  like  the  long  centre 
gun  that  I  had  on  board  the  David  Porter. 

It  is  true,  my  officers  and  men  were  always  ready  to 
board  an  enemy  of  three  times  our  force  ;  but,  in  a  high 
sea,  if  one  of  these  delicately  Baltimore  built  vessels 
should  come  in  contact  with  a  large,  strong  ship,  the 
schooner  would  inevitably  be  crushed  and  sunk.  For 
this  reason,  I  was  compelled  to  let  one  large  English  ship 
with  twelve  guns  escape  while  in  the  English  Channel, 
because  the  weather  was  too  rough  to  board  her. 

November  13th. — At  six  p.  M.  sounded  in  sixty-five 
fathoms  watery  the  Scilly  Islands  bearing  N.W.  fifteen 
leagues  distant.  Light  winds  and  variable  through  the 
night.  At  6  A.M.  saw  a  brig  to  windward.  At  7  ditto 
she  set  English  colors  ;  gave  her  a  gun,  when  she  struck 
her  flag.  She  proved  to  be  an  English  brig  from  Leg 
horn,  bound  up  the  Channel.  It  now  commenced  blow 
ing  a  strong  breeze  from  the  N.W.,  and  soon  there  was 
a  high  sea  running.  Saw  a  large  ship  steering  up  the 
Channel ;  left  the  prize,  made  sail  in  chase  of  her.  At 
10  A.  M.  she  set  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun.  Had 
the  weather  been  smooth,  I  think  we  could  have  carried 
her  by  boarding  in  fifteen  minutes,  or  had  I  met  her  at 
sea,  I  would  have  followed  her  until  the  weather  was 
better,  and  the  sea  smooth  :  but  being  now  in  the  Eng 
lish  Channel  with  a  high  sea,  it  would  have  destroyed 
my  schooner  if  she  had  come  in  contact  with  this  wall- 
sided  ship.  She  showed  six  long  nines  on  each  side- 
After  exchanging  a  few  shot,  I  hauled  off,  and  returned 
to  our  prize. 

Nov.  \ith. — Fresh  breezes   and  cloudy  weather.     At 


1814.]  THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  257 

2  P.  M.  the  weather  moderated,  when  I  took  out  of  the 
English  prize  brig  the  captain,  mate,  and  crew,  and  put 
on  board  of  her  a  prize-master  and  seven  men,  with  or 
ders  to  proceed  to  a  port  in  the  United  States.  At  4  p.  M. 
saw  a  sale  to  windward,  when  we  made  sail  in  chase. 
At  8  ditto  it  became  dark  and  squally  *  lost  sight  of  the 
chase.  At  8  A.  M.  saw  our  prize  ahead  ;  we  soon  came 
up  with  her,  when  I  supplied  her  with  two  casks  of  wa 
ter  and  a  quantity  of  bread,  and  left  her  to  proceed  on 
her  course  to  the  United  States. 

Nov.  \5tli. — Fresh  gales  from  the  westward,  with  a 
rough  sea  running.  Middle  and  latter  part  of  these 
twenty-four  hours,  the  wind  continued  to  blow  strong 
from  the  westward,  with  a  high  sea.  As  it  was  now  the 
middle  of  November,  and  no  prospect  of  much  fine 
weather,  and  my  schooner  so  badly  armed,  I  concluded 
to  leave  this  rough  cruising  ground  and  run  to  the  south 
ward,  in  hopes  of  finding  better  weather,  where  I  could 
profit  by  a  superior  number  of  men  in  making  prizes 
Lat.  47°  28' North. 

Nov.  Vlth. — At  3  P.  M.  boarded  the  Spanish  brig  Alon- 
zo,  from  TenerhTe,  bound  to  London.  On  board  of  this 
vessel  I  put  the  late  captain  of  our  prize  brig. 

Nov.  ISth.- — Light  winds  and  fine  weather  ;  a  man-of- 
war  brig  in  chase  of  us,  about  two  miles  distant.  At  8 
p.  M.  light  breezes  from  the  southward  ;  passed  near  a 
brig  standing  to  the  eastward  ;  had  not  time  to  board 
her,  as  the  man-of-war  was  still  in  chase.  At  midnight 
the  wind  became  fresh  from  the  W.S.  W.,  with  dark,  rainy 
weather.  Took  in  all  the  light  sails,  and  hauled  close 
upon  the  wind  to  the  W.N.W.  At  7  A.  M.  saw  a  small 
sail  on  our  weather-bow  ;  made  sail  in  chase.  At  10 
ditto  came  up  with  and  captured  the  chase  ;  found  it  was 
17 


258  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

an  English  cutter,  from  Teneriffe,  bound  to  London,  with 
a  cargo  of  wine. 

Nov.  19//L — Strong  gaies  from  the  northward,  and  a 
high  sea  running.  At  meridian  took  out  of  the  prize 
twenty  quarter  casks  of  wine,  together  with  her  sails, 
cables,  rigging,  Blocks,  &c.,  and  after  removing  the  pris 
oners,  scuttled  her.  At  1  p.  M.  she  sank.  At  7  A.  M.  saw 
a  sail  to  windward  ;  tacked  ship  to  get  the  weather-gage. 
At  11  ditto  got  her  on  our  lee  beam,  when  I  made  her 
out  to  be  an  English  brig-of-war  of  sixteen  guns.  I  com 
menced  firing  my  long  twelve.  At  noon,  after  receiving 
about  thirty  or  forty  shot  from  the  enemy,  without  any 
material  damage,  I  hauled  off.  Some  of  his  shot  passed 
over  us,  some  fell  short ;  and  only  one  hulled  us  :  this 
shot  passed  through  our  bends  amid-ships,  and  lodged  in 
the  hold.  I  could  outsail  him  with  the  greatest  ease, 
and  if  I  had  had  a  long  well-mounted  centre  gun,  I  could 
have  annoyed  him  without  receiving  any  injury  by  keep 
ing  just  out  of  the  reach  of  his  carronades. 

Nov.  %lst. — Fresh  winds  from  the  N.N.E.,  and  squally 
weather.  At  meridian  saw  a  sail  bearing  W.S.W.  ;  made 
sail  in  chase.  At  4  p.  M.,  she  being  directly  to  leeward, 
I  ran  down  to  discover  the  character  of  the  chase  ;  I  soon 
made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate.  When  within  three  miles 
distance,  I  hoisted  an  English  ensign.  The  frigate  showed 
Portuguese  colors,  and  resorted  to  every  stratagem  in 
his  power  to  decoy  us  down  within  the  range  of  his  shot. 
Finding  I  could  outsail  him  with  ease,  I  hauled  down  the 
English  colors,  set  an  American  ensign,  and  hauled  close 
upon  the  wind,  and  soon  lost  sight  of  her.  During  the 
night  we  had  fresh  gales  at  E.iST.E.,  and  squally  weather. 
At  7  A.  M.  saw  a  small  sail  bearing  S.S.W.  ;  made  sail 
in  chase.  I  soon  came  up  with  and  boarded  an  English 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  259 

schooner  from  Malaga,  bound  to  Dublin,  with  a  cargo  of 
fruit.  Took  out  the  prisoners  and  a  supply  of  fruit,  and 
then  manned  her  and  gave  orders  to  the  prize  master  to 
make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  United  States.  Lat.  by 
account  45°  33'  N.  ;  long.  12°  0'  W. 

Nov.  22J. — -Light  airs  and  fine  pleasant  weather.  At 
3  P.  M.  came  up  with  and  boarded  a  Danish  galiot ;  at 
12  o'clock,  midnight,  put  ten  English  prisoners  on  board 
of  her.  I  supplied  them  with  provisions  and  a  quarter 
cask  of  wine,  and  the  galiot  proceeded  on  her  voyage. 

Nov.  23^. — Fresh  gales  from  the  southward,  with 
dark,  rainy  weather.  At  1  P.M.  wore  ship  to  the  S.E. 
in  chase  of  a  brig  ;  at  three  came  up  with  and  spoke 
her.  She  proved  to  be  a  Prussian  from  Oporto,  bound 
to  Hamburg,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  and  fruit.  Middle 
part  of  the  twenty-four  hours,  strong  gales  from  the 
"N.N.W.  At  noon  discovered  two  frigates  to  leeward. 
They. both  made  sail  in  chase  of  me.  I  plied  to  wind 
ward,  tacking  every  hour,  and  beat  them  without 
difficulty  ;  but,  as  there  were  two  of  them,  I  was  not 
quite  at  ease  until  I  had  got  out  of  their  neighborhood. 

Nov.  24/A. — Fresh  gales  from  the  F.W..  and  squally, 
with  showers  of  rain  and  a  high  head-sea  running ;  the  two 
frigates  still  in  chase  of  us.  At  5  P.  M.  the  weathermost 
frigate  was  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant  to  leeward  : 
finding  I  could  beat  them  with  so  much  ease.  I  reefed 
the  sails,  and  plied  to  windward.  Towards  morning  the 
wind  moderated,  and  at  daylight  there  was  nothing  in 
sight.  Lat.  by  obs.  44°  34'  N..  long.  15°  8'  W. 

Nov.  25th. — Moderate  breezes  from  the  westward, 
and  fine  weather.  At  3  p.  M.  discovered  a  sail  bearing 
about  S.E.  ;  made  sail  and  bore  away  in  chase.  At 
half-past  three  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate,  when  I 
hauled  upon  the  wind.  At  four  ditto  she  fired  a  gun, 


260  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

and  showed  American  colors.  I  set  an  American  ensign 
for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  hauled  it  down  and  hoisted 
a  large  English  ensign.  She  fired  three  or  four  shot, 
but  finding  they  fell  short,  stopped  firing,  and  crowded 
all  sail  in  chase  of  me.  Night  coming  on,  I  soon  lost 
sight  of  her. 

Nov.  2Qth.  -  -  Strong  gales  from  the  W.N.W.,  and 
thick,  squally  weather.  At  1  p.  M.  discovered  a  sail  to 
the  windward,  bearing  N.W.  ;  made  sail  in  chase,  tack 
ing  every  hour.  At  5  ditto,  made  him  out  to  be  a  ship 
standing  upon  the  wind  to  the  N.E.  At  half-past  9 
o'clock,  after  getting  on  his  weather  quarter,  ran  up 
along  side,  hailed  him,  and  ordered  him  to  heave  to, 
which  order  was  immediately  obeyed.  I  sent  my  boat 
on  board,  and  found  him  to  be  an  English  ship,  burthen 
about  200  tons,  from  Palermo,  bound  to  London,  with 
a  cargo  of  brimstone,  rags,  mats,  etc.  He  mounted  six 
guns,  with  a  crew  of  about  twenty  men.  We  kept 
company  through  the  night.  The  latter  part  of  these 
twenty-four  hours,  light  winds  and  fine  weather,  Lat. 
by  obs.  42°  31'  K,  long.  15°  46'  W. 

Nov.  27th. — Light  breezes  from  the  N.W.,  and  fine, 
pleasant  weather.  In  the  forenoon  of  this  day  removed 
the  prisoners  from  the  ship,  and  put  on  board  a  prize 
master  and  a  crew  of  ten  men  ;  I  also  took  out  her 
guns,  powder,  shot,  and  some  fruit,  and  then  ordered 
her  to  proceed  to  the  United  States.  At  2  P.  M.  made 
sail  and  steered  to  the  S.W.,  and  at  5  ditto  lost  sight 
of  the  prize.  Lat.  by  obs.  41°  3'  K,  long.  15°  46'  W. 

At  half-past  6  A.  M.,  daylight,  saw  a  small  sail  bear 
ing  S.E.  ;  at  7  spoke  her  ;  she  was  a  small  schooner, 
one  day  from  Lisbon,  bound  to  Oporto.  At  this  time 
made  the  Burling  Rocks,  bearing  S.S.E.  five  leagues 
distant ;  several  small  sail  in  sight.  At  meridian,  the 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  261 

Rock  of  Lisbon  bore  S.  by  E.,  seven  leagues  distant. 
Fresh  breezes  from  the  JST.E.  and  fine  weather.  Lat. 
by  obs.  39°  1'  N. 

Dec.  1st. — These  twenty-four  hours  commenced  with 
fresh  breezes  at  jNMST.W.,  with  open,  cloudy  weather. 

At  1  p.  M.  saw  a  ship  on  our  weather  quarter,  coming 
up  with  us  very  fast.  I  made  sail,  steering  to  the  west 
ward,  to  get  to  windward  of  the  ship,  in  order  to  ascer 
tain  her  character.  It  was  then  blowing  a  strong 
breeze  from  the  •JST.N.W.,  and  the  weather  was  some 
what  squally  ;  a  head  sea  was  running.  About  half-past 
2  P.  M.  the  schooner  gave  a  sudden  pitch,  when,  to  the 
astonishment  of  every  person  on  board,  the  foremast 
broke,  about  one-third  below  its  head,  and  in  a  moment 
after,  it  broke  again,  close  to  the  deck.  While  in  this 
situation,  I  had  the  mortification  to  see  the  ship  pass  us. 
within  pistol-shot,  without  being  able  to  pursue  her. 
I  believe  she  was  an  English  packet,  just  out  of 
Lisbon,  and  bound  for  England  ;  and,  _I  doubt  not, 
if  this  unfortunate  accident  had  not  occurred,  we  should 
have  captured  her  in  less  than  one  hour  from  the  time 
she  was  first  seen.  At  this  time  the  packets  transport 
ed  large  quantities  of  specie  to  England,  and  this  ship 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  proved  a  rich  prize  to  us. 
I  have  no  doubt  the  mast  was  defective,  and  that  it 
should  have  been  renewed  before  leaving  port.  From 
this  untoward  circumstance  resulted  all  the  misfortunes 
attending  the  cruise. 

I  cannot  express  the  disappointment  and  mortification 
I  now  felt,  not  so  much  on  my  own  account,  as  for  the 
loss  incurred  by  the  gentlemen  who  planned  and  fitted 
out  the  expedition.  The  Rock  of  Lisbon  bore  E.S.E. 
30  miles  distant,  and  my  only  hope  was  to  get  into  Lis 
bon  or  St.  Ubes  before  daylight  the  next  morning,  and 


262  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

thus  escape  capture.  I  accordingly  cleared  away  the 
wreck,  rigged  a  jury  foremast,  and  bore  away.  At  4 
p.  M.,  an  hour  after  the  accident  occurred,  we  were 
going  at  the  rate  of  seven  knots  an  hour,  and  had  the 
breeze  continued  through  the  night,  should  have  got 
into  port  by  daylights  next  morning  ;  but,  unfortunately, 
the  wind  became  light  during  the  night,  and  we  made 
little  progress.  At  5  A.  M.,  daylight,  made  Cape  Espar- 
tel  and  the  Rock  of  Lisbon,  when  it  became  almost 
calm.  We  then  commenced  sweeping  and  towing,  with 
two  boats  ahead,  until  1  p.  M.,  when  a  light  air  sprung 
up  from  the  westward,  and  I  had  strong  hopes  of  being 
able  to  get  in,  or  run  the  vessel  on  shore  and  destroy 
her,  and  thus  escape  capture. 

At  2  p.  M.,  being  about  four  miles  from  the  land,  I 
received  a  Lisbon  pilot  on  board.  The  ebb-tide  now 
commenced  running  out  of  theTagus,  and  I  had  the  mor 
tification  to  see  a  British  frigate  coming  out  with  the 
first  of  it,  with  a  light  breeze  from  off  the  land.  At  2 
p.  M.  I  was  under  her  guns.  She  proved  to  be  the 
Granicus,  a  38  gun  frigate,  Captain  W.  F.  Wise.  We 
were  all  removed  to  the  frigate,  and  the  schooner  taken 
in  tow  for  GTibr altar. 

Two  days  after  our  capture,  viz.,  on  the  3d  of  Decem 
ber,  we  arrived  at  Gibraltar.  Nearly  all  my  officers 
aifld  men  were  distributed  and  sent  to  England  in  differ 
ent  ships ;  the  first  and  second  lieutenants,  with  myself, 
were  retained  on  board  the  Granicus  to  undergo  an 
examination  at  the  Admiralty  Court. 

The  next  day  after  our  arrival,  the  frigate  left  port 
fer  Tetuan  Bay,  Morocco,  opposite  Gibraltar,  to  obtain 
water,  and  to  be  painted."  We  were  taken  on  this  little 
voyage,  and  had  I  not  been  a  prisoner,  I  should  liavo 
enjoyed  very  much  the  novelty  of  the  excursion,  which 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  263 

occupied  three  or  four  days.  Captain  Wise  was  a  fine, 
gentlemanly  man,  and  always  treated  me  and  my 
officers  with  respect  and  kindness.  We  messed  in 
the  ward-room.  I  had  a  state-room  to  myself,  and  was 
as  comfortable  and  happy  as  I  could  be  under  the  circum 
stances. 

I  used  to  dine  with  Capt.  Wise  almost  daily  ;  he  fre 
quently  said  to  me,  "  Don't  feel  depressed  by  captivity,* 
but  strive  to  forget  that  you  are  a  prisoner,  and  imagine 
that  you  are  only  a  passenger." 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  he  said  to  me  :  "  Cog- 
geshall,  you  Americans  are  a  singular  people  as  it  re 
spects  seamanship  and  enterprise.  In  England,  we  can 
not  build  such  vessels  as  your  Baltimore  clippers  ;  we 
have  no  such  models,  and  even  if  we  had  them,  they 
would  be  of  no  service  to  us,  for  we  never  could  sail 
them  as  you  do.  We  have  now  and  then  taken  some 
of  your  schooners  with  our  fast  sailing  frigates.  They 
have  sometimes  caught  one  of  them  under  their  lee,  in 
a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  by  out-carrying  them.  Then, 
again,  we  have  taken  a  few  with  our  boats  in  calm 
weather.  We  are  afraid  of  their  long  masts  and  heavy 
spars,  and  soon  cut  down  and  reduce  them  to  our  stand 
ard.  We  strengthen  them,  put  up  bulkheads,  etc.,  after 
which  they  lose  their  sailing  qualities,  and  are  of  no  fur 
ther  service  as  cruising  vessels." 

He  also  remarked  that  the  famous  privateer  True 
Blooded  Yankee,  which  had  done  them  so  much  mis 
chief,  once  belonged  to  their  navy  ;  that  they  captured 
her  from  the  French  ;  that  she  was  afterwards  re-taken, 
and  finally  got  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  ;  that  she 
then  outsailed  every  thing,  and  that  none  of  their  cruisers 
could  touch  her,  and  concluded  by  adding  that  we  were 
a  most  ingenious  people. 


264  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

I  observed  that  perhaps  he  gave  us  too  much  credit 
for  our  skill  in  seamanship.  He  replied  that  he  did  not, 
but  only  stated  the  simple  truth. 

He  soon  afterward  related  a  very  amusing  anecdote 
about  one  of  our  little  schooners,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Garonne,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  He  said  the  Superb, 
seventy-four,  was  cruising  off  the  mouth  of  that  river, 
"and  that  one  morning,  in  a  fog,  they  found  one  of  our 
little  schooners  under  her  guns.  They,  of  course,  con 
cluded  she  could  not  make  her  escape.  The  Captain 
had  his  wife  with  him,  who  had  the  curiosity  to  watch 
the  little  schooner  from  the  quarter  deck,  and  on  her 
return  to  England,  related  to  her  friends  all  the  circum 
stances  of  her  escape,  which  were  as  follows  :  "  One  morn 
ing  we  were  quite  near  one  of  the  American  schooners, 
but  could  not  catch  her."  When  asked  the  reason  why, 
she  replied :  "  Because  we  could  not  turn  round  soon 
enough."  Capt.  Wise  then  observed,  that  the  lady  re 
lated  all  the  facts  in  the  case  in  the  few  words,  "  Because 
we  could  not  turn  round  soon  enough."  A  nautical 
man,  in  describing  it,  would  probably  have  said  :  "  The 
ship  got  into  the  wind  and  made  a  stern  board,  and  be 
fore  we  could  get  sufficient  steerage  way  upon  her  to 
tack  after  the  schooner,  the  little  craft  had  already  made 
three  or  four  tacks  right  in  the  wind's  eye,  and  was  soon 
out  of  reach  of  our  shot,  and  thus  made  her  escape,  to 
our  great  surprise  and  mortification." 

On  another  occasion,  the  conversation  turned  on  the 
action  between  the  Constitution  and  the  Guerriere,  when 
Capt,  Wise  observed,  that  Capt.  Dacres  was  a  cousin  of 
his,  and  a  personal  friend.  I  remarked  that  Capt.  Hull 
was  a  relative  of  mine,  and  first  cousin  to  my  father  ; 
that  I  had  personally  known  him  for  many  years.  He 
added,  that  it  was  a  singular  coincidence  ;  and  after  dis- 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  265 

cussing  the  subject  good-naturedly  for  some  time,  a 
young  midshipman,  who  was  dining  with  us,  expressed 
a  wish  that  he  could  have  an  opportunity  of  being- 
engaged  with  an  American  frigate,  under  like  circum 
stances,  when  Capt.  Wise  reprovingly  replied  :  "Don't 
boast,  youngster,  perhaps  if  you  should,  you  might  get 
handsomely  whipped.'7  In  this  way  we  often  discussed 
the  relative  merits  of  our  respective  countries,  with 
kindness  and  social  courtesy.  Capt.  Wise  occasionally 
invited  Mr.  Depeyster,  my  first  lieutenant,  to  dine  with 
him,  and  in  the  characteristic  goodness  of  his  heart,  said 
he  would  endeavor  to  get  us  paroled,  and  thus  prevent 
our  being  sent  to  England.  We  stated  to  him,  that  we 
had  voluntarily  released  more  than  thirty  British  prison 
ers,  notwithstanding  the  American  government  gave  a 
bounty  (to  letters-of-marque  and  privateers)  of  ten  dol 
lars  per  head  for  British  prisoners  brought  into  the 
United  States.  These  facts  Capt.  Wise  represented  to 
the  governor,  and  also  added,  that  the  five  English 
prisoners,  found  on  board  the  Leo,  said  they  had  been 
very  kindly  treated,  and  he  hoped  his  Excellency  would 
release  me  and  my  two  lieutenants  upon  our  parole,  and 
let  us  return  direct  to  the  United  States.  The  governor 
refused  to  comply  with  the  kind  request  of  Capt.  Wise, 
and  said  he  had  positive  orders  from  the  British  govern 
ment  to  send  every  American  prisoner,  brought  into  that 
port,  to  England.  When  Capt.  Wise  informed  us  that 
he  was  unable  to  obtain  our  liberty  on  parole,  he  gave 
me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  friend  in  England,  re 
questing  him  to  use  his  best  interest  to  get  myself  and 
my  first  and  second  lieutenants  released  on  parole,  and 
thus  enable  us  to  return  forthwith  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Daly,  an  Irish  gentleman,  second  lieutenant  of  the 
Granicus,  who  was  connected  with  several  persons  of 


266  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

distinction  in  England,  also  gave  me  a  letter  to  a  noble 
lady  of  great  influence  at  court.  I  regret  I  do  not  re 
collect  her  name,  but  I  well  remember  the  emphatic 
expression  of  the  kind-hearted  and  generous  Daly  when 
he  handed  me  the  letter  to  his  noble  friend.  "  Cause 
this  letter  to  be  presented, ;?  said  he,  "  and  rely  upon  it, 
this  lady  will  never  allow  you  or  your  two  friends  to  be 
sent  to  prison  in  England."  Mr.  Depeyster  was  a  high- 
spirited  man,  and  when  he  learned  that  we  could  not 
obtain  our  liberty  on  parole,  he  became  extremely  vexed 
and  excited,  and  told  the  ward-room  officers  that  if  it 
should  ever  please  God  to  place  him  in  a  letter-of- 
marque  or  privateer,  during  the  war,  he  would  never 
again  release  an  English  prisoner,  but  would  have  a 
place  built  in  the  vessel  to  confine  them  until  he  should 
arrive  in  the  United  States  ;  that  the  bounty  giv-en  by 
the  United  States  government  rendered  it  an  object  to 
carry  them  into  port,  but  from  motives  of  humanity  he 
had  released  many  of  their  countrymen  ;  and  now  they 
refused  to  parole  three  unfortunate  men  who  were  in 
their  power.  I  said  but  little  on  the  subject,  but  from 
that  moment  resolved  to  make  my  escape  upon  the  first 
opportunity. 

The  next  day  after  this  conversation  (December  8th), 
Capt.  Wise  said,  "Capt.  Coggeshall,  it  is  necessary  that 
you  and  your  officers  should  go  on  shore  to  the  Ad 
miralty  Office,  there  to  be  examined  with  respect  to  the 
condemnation  of  your  schooner,  your  late  cruise,  &c., 
and  if  you  will  pledge  me  your  word  and  honor  that 
you  and  your  officers  will  not  attempt  to  make  your  es 
cape,  I  will  permit  you  and  the  other  two  gentlemen  to 
go  on  shore  without  a  guard."  I  told  him  at  once  that 
I  would  give  the  pledge  not  to  attempt  in  any  way  to 
make  my  escape,  and  would  also  be  answerable  for  Mr 


1814.1  THE    AMERICAN.   PRIVATEERS.  267 


Depeyster  and  Mr.  Allen.      This  ready  compliance  on 
my  part  resulted  from   a  desire   to  gain.-an  opportu 
nity  to  reconnoitre  the  garrison,  or  in  seaman's  phrase, 
"to  see  how  the  land  lay,';  in  order  to  profit  by  the 
first  chance  to  make  my  escape  when  not  on  parole. 

We  accordingly  went  on  shore  without  a  guard,  and 
were  conducted  to  the  Admiralty  Office.  I  was  first  ex 
amined,  and  was  asked  a  great  many  questions,  the 
greater  part  of  which  were  from  a  printed  copy  ;  the 
answers  were  written  down  opposite  the  questions.  It 
seemed  to  me  to  be  more  a  matter  of  form,  than  for  any 
special  purpose.  By-the-by,  many  of  the  inquiries  ap 
peared  to  me  very  unmeaning  and  unimportant.  When 
they  had  finished  with  me,  they  commenced  with  Mr. 
Depeyster  •  and  after  asking  him  a  few  questions,  the 
court  of  inquiry  was  adjourned  until  the  next  morning 
at  10  o'clock  ;  and  notifying  us  to  be  there  precisely  at 
the  time  appointed,  we  were  dismissed.  We  then  took 
a  stroll  about  the  town  for  an  hour  or  two,  returned  on 
board,  and  reported  ourselves  to  Capt.  Wise. 

Thus  far,  not  a  shadow  of  suspicion  had  been  visible 
on  the  countenances  of  Captain  Wise,  or  his  officers,  that 
either  of  us  would  attempt  to  make  our  escape.  In  the 
evening,  I  consulted  with  Messrs.  Depeyster  and  Allen 
on  the  subject  of  giving  them  the  dodge  upon  the  very 
first  opportunity.  I  told  them  if  the  captain  required 
my  parole  the  next  morning  I  would  not  give  it,  neither 
would  I  advise  them  to  pledge  their  word  and  honor  that 
they  would  not  make  their  escape.  I  told  them,  fur 
thermore,  that  I  was  resolved  to  slip  away  the  first  mo 
ment  I  saw  a  favorable  opportunity,  and  would  advise 
them  to  do  the  same,  and  not,  from  motives  of  delicacy, 
wait  a  moment  for  me. 

The  next  morning,  when  dressing,  I  pufall  the  money 


268  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

I  had,  say  about  one  hundred  gold  twenty-franc  pieces, 
in  a  belt  that  was  around  my  person,  and  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  Spanish  dollars  in  my  pocket,  with  some  little 
relics  and  trifling  keepsakes.  Thus  prepared,  I  went  to 
breakfast  in  the  ward-room.  About  9  o'clock,  Captain 
"Wise  sent  for  me,  when  the  following  dialogue  ensued  : 
"  Well,  Coggeshall,  I  understand  you  and  your  officers 
are  required  at  the  Admiralty  Office  at  10  o'clock,  and  if 
you  will  again  pledge  your  honor,  as  you  did  yesterday, 
that  you  will  neither  of  you  attempt  to  make  your 
escape,  you  may  go  on  shore  without  a  guard,  otherwise 
I  shall  be  obliged  to  send  one  with  you."  I  watched 
his  countenance  closely,  for  a  moment,  to  ascertain  his 
real  meaning,  and  whether  he  was  determined  to  adhere 
strictly  to  the  words  he  had  just  uttered,  and  then  replied, 
"  Captain  Wise,  I  am  surprised  that  you  should  think 
it  possible  for  any  one  to  make  his  escape  from  Gib 
raltar.7'  He  instantly  saw  I  was  sounding  him,  when  he 
pleasantly  but  firmly  said,  "Come,  come,  it  wont  do, 
you  must  either  pledge  your  word  and  honor  that  neither 
you  nor  your  officers  will  attempt  to  make  your  escape, 
or  I  shall  be  compelled  to  send  a  guard  with  you."  I 
felt  a  little  touched,  and  promptly  replied,  "you  had 
better  send  a  guard,  sir."  Accordingly,  he  ordered  the 
third  lieutenant  to  take  a  sergeant  and  four  marines 
\vith  him  and  conduct  us  to  the  Admiralty  Office. 

At  the  hour  appointed  they  recommenced  the  examin 
ation  where  they  had  left  off  the  day  before  with  Mr. 
Depeyster.  I  was  sitting  in  the  court-room,  and  Mr. 
Allen  standing  at  the  door,  when  he  beckoned  to  me.  I 
instantly  went  to  the  door,  and  found  the  lieutenant  had 
left  his  post,  and  was  not  in  sight.  I  then  asked  the  ser 
geant  whether  he  would  go  with  us  a  short  distance  up 
the  street  to  take  a  glass  of  wine.  He  readily  complied 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  269 

with  my  request,  leaving  the  marines  at  the  door  to 
watch  Mr.  Depeyster,  and  walked  respectfully  at  a  few 
paces  behind  us,  up  the  street.  (I  had  been  once  before 
at  Gibraltar,  and  understood  the  town  perfectly  well). 
We  soon  came  to  a  wine  shop  on  a  corner,  with  a  door 
opening  on  each  street.  While  the  soldier  was  standing 
at  the  door,  Mr.  A.  and  myself  entered  and  called  for  a 
glass  of  wine.  I  drank  a  glass  in  haste,  but  unfortu 
nately  had  no  small  change,  and  this  circumstance  alone, 
prevented  my  worthy  friend  from  going  with  me.  I 
hastily  told  him  I  would  cross  the  little  square  in  front, 
turn  the  first  corner  and  there  wait  for  him  to  join  me. 
I  then  slipped  out  of  the  shop,  passed  quickly  over  the 
little  park,  and  turned  the  corner  agreed  upon,  without 
being  seen  by  the  sergeant,  while  he  was  watching  at 
the  opposite  door.  I  waited  some  minutes  on  the  cor 
ner  for  Mr.  Allen,  and  was  sadly  disappointed  that  he 
did  not  make  his  appearance.  I  had  now  fairly  com 
mitted  myself,  and  found  I  had  not  a  moment  to  spare. 
I  therefore  walked  with  a  quick  step  towards  the  Land 
Port  Gate,  not  that  leading  to  the  Peninsula,  bat 
the  gate  situated  at  the  north-west  extremity  of  the 
town. 

My  dress  was  a  blue  coat,  black  stock,  and  black 
cockade,  with  an  eagle  in  the  centre.  The  eagle  I  took 
care  to  remove,  and  then  it  was  tout-a-fait  an  English 
cockade,  and  I  had,  on  the  whole,  very  much  the  appear 
ance  of  an  English  naval  officer.  I  said  to  myself  when 
approaching  the  guard  at  the  gate,  "  J^ow  is  the  critical 
moment,  and  the  most  perfect  composure  and  consum 
mate  impudence  are  necessary  to  a  successful  result."  I 
gave  a  stern  look  at  the  sentinel,  when  he  returned  me 
a  respectful  salute,  and  I  was  in  another  moment  with 
out  the  walls  of  Gibraltar. 


270  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

I  walked  deliberately  down  the  mole,  or  quay,  where 
I  was  accosted  by  a  great  number  of  watermen  offering 
to  convey  me  on  board  my  vessel.  I  employed  one,  and 
after  getting  off  in  the  bay,  he  said,  "  Captain,  which  is 
your  vessel  ?"  Here  again  I  was  at  a  loss  to  decide  on 
an  answer,  but  after  gazing  for  a  few  moments  on  the 
different  ships  and  the  flags  of  different  nations,  my  eye 
caught  sight  of  a  galiot  with  a  Norwegian  ensign  fly 
ing,  and  I  said  to  myself,  "  The  Norwegians  are  a  virtu 
ous,  honest  people,  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  trust  them." 
I  had  been  in  their  country,  and  understood  the  charac 
ter  of  these  hardy,  honest-hearted  sons  of  the  North. 
After  a  moment's  hesitation,  I  replied  to  the  boatman, 
"  That  is  my  vessel,'7  pointing  to  the  friendly  galiot,  and 
we  were  soon  alongside.  I  jumped  on  board,  and  in 
quired  for  the  captain,  who  soon  made  his  appearance. 
I  told  him  I  had  something  to  communicate  to  him.  He 
told  me  to  follow  him  into  the  cabin.  I  immediately 
asked  him  whether  he  was  willing  to  befriend  a  man  in 
distress.  He  said,  "  Tell  me  your  story,  and  I  will  try 
to  serve  you."  I  frankly  told  him  I  was  captain  of  the 
American  letter-of-marque  schooner  lately  sent  into  port 
by  the  frigate  Granicus,  and  that  I  had  made  my  escape 
from  the  garrison,  and  desired  to  get  over  to  Algeciras 
as  soon  as  possible  ;  that  I  had  money  enough,  but  still 
I  wanted  his  friendship,  confidence,  and  protection.  The 
good  old  gentleman  had  scarcely  waited  to  hear  my  story 
to  the  end,  before  he  grasped  me  by  the  hand  and  said, 
in  a  kind  and  feeling  manner,  "  I  will  be  your  friend,  I 
will  protect  you  ;  I  was  once  a  prisoner  in  England,  and 
I  know  what  it  is  to  be  a  prisoner ;  rest  assured,  my 
dear  sir,  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  assist  you.  I  offered  him 
a  dollar  to  pay  and  discharge  the  boatman,  and  remained 
myself  below  in  the  cabin.  He  said,  "  Put  up  your 


1814.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  271 

money,  I  have  small  change,  and  I  will  pay  him  what  is 
just  and  right.'7  After  dispatching  the  boatman,  he  re 
turned  below  and  said,  "  Now  take  off  your  coat,  and 
put  on  this  large  pea-jacket  and  fur  cap."  In  this  cos 
tume,  and  with  a  large  pipe  in  my  mouth,  I  was,  in 
less  than  two  minutes,  transformed  into  a  regular  Nor 
wegian.  Returning  again  on  deck,  I  asked  my  good 
friend  the  captain  whether  I  could  rely  on  his  mate  and 
sailors  not  to  betray  me  ;  he  said,  "  They  are  honest, 
and  perfectly  trustworthy,  and  you  need  be  under  no 
apprehension  on  their  account.77  We  took  a  social  din 
ner  together,  when  he  observed  ;  "  I  will  now  go  on  shore 
for  an  hour  or  two,  and  hear  all  I  can  about  your  escape, 
and  will  come  back  early  in  the  evening  and  relate  to 
you  all  I  learn.77  In  the  evening  the  old  captain  re 
turned,  pleased  and  delighted.  He  said  he  never  saw 
such  a  hubbub  as  there  was  about  town  ;  that  the  whole 
garrison  seemed  to  be  on  the  look-out,  that  the  Town 
Major,  with  the  military  and  civil  police,  were'  searching 
every  hole  and  corner  in  Gibraltar  for  the  captain  of 
the  American  privateer  ;  that  both  of  my  officers  were 
put  in  confinement,  and:  that  the  lieutenant  of  the  frigate 
who  had  the  charge  of  us  had  been  arrested  •  in  short, 
there  was  "the  devil  to  pay,77  because  the  captain  of  the 
privateer  could  not  be  found. 

The  next  morning  I  stated  to  my  worthy  friend  how 
extremely  anxious  I  was  to  go  over  to  Algeciras,  and 
how  mortified  I  should  be  to  be  taken  again  on  board 
the  Granicus.  He  answered,  "  Leave  that  to  me  :  I  am 
well  acquainted  with  a  gang  of  smugglers  who  belong  to 
Algeciras,  and  often  sell  them  gin,  tobacco,  and  other 
articles  of  trade  ;  they  will  be  here  on  board  my  galiot 
at  9  o7clock  this  evening,  and  will  probably  start  for 
Algeciras  about  midnight,  after  they  have  made  all  their 


272  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814, 

purchases.  When  they  come  I  will  arrange  with  them  to 
take  you  as  a  passenger. " 

About  9  o'clock  that  evening,  a  long,  fast-rowing 
boat  came  silently  along-side  filled  with  men  •  and  cer 
tainly  a  more  desperate,  villainous-looking  set  was  never 
seen.  Their  leader  and  several  of  his  men  came  on  board 
the  galiot.  and  after  having  purchased  several  articles 
and  taken  a  glass  of  gin  all  around,  the  old  captain  in 
quired  of  the  patroon  of  the  boat  what  hour  he  intended 
to  start  for  Algeciras,  and  said,  that  the  reason  of  his 
asking  the  question  was  that  his  brother  wanted  to  go  to 
that  place  for  a  few  days  upon  business,  and  he  wished 
to  engage  a  passage  for  him,  and  that  he  should  be  glad 
if  his  brother  could  lodge  for  a  few  days  with  his  family. 
He  answered  that  he  should  return  again  about  mid 
night,  and  would  willingly  take  the  captain's  brother,  and 
that  if  he  could  put  up  with  rough  fare,  he  was  welcome 
to  stay  at  his  house  as  long  as  he  pleased.  I  accord 
ingly  got  ready  my  little  bundle,  which  consisted  of  a  few 
small  articles,  such  as  a  shirt  or  two  (for  I  did  not  forget 
to  wear  three  at  the  time  I  left  the  Granicus),  and  stow 
ed  it  away  in  my  hat.  I  agreed  with  my  friend,  the  Nor 
wegian,  to  leave  the  cap  and  pea  jacket  with  the  Ameri 
can  Consul  at  Algeciras,  to  be  returned  to  him  by  some 
safe  conveyance  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  Agreeable 
to  promise  the  boat  came  on  board  precisely  at  12 
o'clock,  and  after  my  friend,  the  captain,  had  again  cau 
tioned  the  patroon  of  the  boat,  to  take  good  care  of  his 
brother,  we  started. 

The  water  in  the  bay  was  smooth,  though  the  night 
was  dark  and  favorable  to  the  safe  prosecution  of  the 
passage.  The  distance  is  about  eight  or .  ten  miles  from 
Gibraltar  ;  and  after  rowing  two  hours,  we  arrived  near 
the  harbor,  when  we  showed  a  light  in  a  lantern  for  a 


18H.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  273 

minute  or  two, and  then  covered  it  with  a  jacket.  This  sig 
nal  was  repeated  two  or  three  times,  until  it  was  an 
swered  in  the  same  way  from  the  shore.  We  approached 
the  port  cautiously,  and  landed  in  silence.  The  patroon 
took  me  by  the  arm,  and  lead  me  through  many  a  dark 
winding  passage.  On  our  way  we  passed  by  several  sen 
tinels,  and  were  frequently  hailed  with  the  shrill  sound 
of  "  Quien  Viva?"  To  these  salutations  some  friendly 
answer  was  returned,  and  thus  everything  passed  smooth 
ly  on,  until  at  length  we  arrived  at  the  humble  dwelling 
of  the  smuggler. 

In  Spain,  the  contrabandists  are  a  desperate  class  of 
mew,  and  often  spread  dread  and  fear  through  a  wide 
region  of  country.  In  many  instances  they  are  so  nu 
merous  and  strong  that  they  often  put  the  whole  power 
of  the  government  at  defiance.  The  gang  that  brought 
me  to  Algeciras  were  about  twenty  in  number,  all 
armed  to  the  teeth  with  long  knives,  pistols,  swords, 
&c.,  and  had  no  doubt  made  their  arrangements  during 
the  day  with  the  officers  and  sentinels  who  were  to  mount 
guard  that  night.  Of  course  thejr  made  them  a  com 
pensation  in  some  way  or  other,  in  order  that  they  should 
meet  with  nothing  to  interfere  with,  or  obstruct  their 
nocturnal  enterprises. 

Early  in  life  I  had  made  several  voyages  to  Spain  and 
its  colonies  in  America,  and  had  acquired  a  pretty  good 
knowledge  of  the  Spanish  character.  I  had  also  picked 
up  enough  of  the  language  to  enable  me  to  make  my 
way  among  them  without  difficulty. 

There  is  something  about  the  Spaniard  that  immedi 
ately  inspires  confidence  ;  so  much  so,  that  although  sur 
rounded  by  this  desperate  gang  of  smugglers,  I  had  not 
the  smallest  fear  for  my  safety.     It  was  now  near  three 
18 


274  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  we  entered  the  small,  low 
cabin  of  the  patroon.  The  interior  consisted  of  one 
room  of  moderate  size,  with  a  mat  hung  up,  to  serve  as 
a  partition,  to  separate  the  different  members  of  the  fam 
ily,  which  consisted  of  the  patroon,  Antonio,  his  wife, 
and  two  children.  The  eldest,  a  girl,  was  about  eight  or 
nine  years  of  age,  and  the  boy,  a  fine  little  fellow,  about 
six.  Antonio  was  thirty-five  or  forty  years  old,  and  his 
wife,  a  good-looking  woman,  twenty-eight  or  thirty. 

With  this  family  I  was  soon  placed  upon  the  most 
friendly  and  intimate  footing.  A  straw  bed  was  prepared 
for  me  behind  the  mat  screen.  Before  saying  good-night 
Antonio  told  me  he  should  leave  the  house  very  early  in 
the  morning  to  look  after  his  boat  and  smuggled  goods, 
and  should  not  return  until  noon  next  day.  He  said  his 
wife  and  little  daughter  would  provide  breakfast  for  me, 
and  would  purchase  whatever  I  wished  at  any  time.  After 
these  preliminaries  were  settled  we  all  said,  "Buenasno- 
ches,"  and  dropped  asleep. 

About  7  o'clock  the  next  morning  I  furnished  the 
smuggler's  wife  with  money  to  purchase  bread,  butter, 
eggs  and  coffee  ;  and  when  breakfast  was  prepared,  the 
mother,  the  two  children,  and  myself,  ate  our  social  meal 
together.  I  then  took  a  stroll  about  the  town  of  Alge- 
ciras  in  my  Norwegian  costume,  and  silently  observed 
what  was  going  on,  without  conversing  with  any  person  • 
when  I  entered  a  coffee  house  I  generally  took  a  news 
paper,  and.  as  I  said  nothing,  no  one  appeared  to  notice 
me.  I  had  broken  the  quarantine  laws,  and  therefore 
deemed  it  prudent  to  keep  on  my  disguise  for  a  few  days, 
and  continue  to  live  in  perfect  seclusion.  The  next 
night,  Antonio  was  to  leave  this  place  for  Gibraltar,  and 
by  him  I  sent  the  following  letter  to  my  friend  the  good 
Norwegian. 


1814.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  275 

ALGECIRAS,  Dec.  13^,  1814. 
Captain  of  the  Galiot : 

MY  DEAR,  GOOD  FRIEND  :  I  am  happy  to  inform  you 
that  I  landed  here  last  night,  or  rather  at  2  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  have  taken  up  my  abode  in  the  family  of 
our  friend,  the  patroon  Antonio,  and  now  consider  my 
self  in  perfect  safety — all  which  I  owe  to  your  kind  and 
generous  conduct.  While  I  live  my  heart  will  ever  beat 
with  gratitude  to  you,  my  excellent  friend,  and  if  it  should 
never  be  in  my  power  to  reward  your  disinterested  kind 
ness,  I  sincerely  pray  that  God  will  reward  and  bless  you 
and  yours  to  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  Although 
I  live  in  an  obscure  cabin,  and  am  here  a  stranger  in  a 
strange  land,  still  I  am  happier  than  I  could  possibly  be 
in  a  palace,  deprived  of  my  liberty. 

I  shall  remain  here  a  few  days  in  disguise,  and  shall  be 
happy  to  receive  a  letter  from  you  per  Antonio.  I  am 
extremely  anxious  to  hear  what  has  become  of  my  offi 
cers,  and  whether  they  have  been  sent  prisoners  to  Eng 
land.  You  said  it  was  possible  you  might  come  over  to 
Algeciras.  I  hope  you  will  conclude  to  do  so,  and  thou 
I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  your  society,  wh"e 
you  remain  in  this  place. 

Adieu,  my  dear  Sir,  and  believe  me  always  with  esteem, 
Your  grateful  friend, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

Antonio  was  absent  almost  all  the  time  during  the 
three  days  I  remained  in  his  family.  I  furnished  money, 
and  the  good  Maria  purchased  and  prepared  our  frugal 
meals.  When  I  returned  from  a  stroll  about  the  town, 
I  always  took  care  to  provide  cakes  and  bonbons  for  the 


276  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

children  ;  so  we  soon  became  very  good  friends,  and  all 
lived  very  happily  together,  and  upon  terms  of  the  most 
perfect  equality. 

After  remaining  here  for  a  period  of  three  days,  I  be 
gan  to  tire  of  this  mode  of  life,  and  was  determined  to 
ascertain  how  I  could  get  to  Cadiz,  where  I  knew  I  should 
find  friends,  and  be  further  removed  from  the  mortifying 
scenes  through  which  I  had  so  lately  passed.  Accordingly, 
on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  of  my  landing  at  Al- 
geciras,  I  repaired  to  a  cafe,  and  inquired  of  one  of  the 
servants  whether  there  was  an  American  Consul  residing 
in  the  city.  The  boy  seemed  intelligent,  and  instantly 
replied,  that  Don  Horatio  Spragtie,  the  former  Consul  at 
Gibraltar,  was  residing  here,  and  that  he  was,  "  unhom- 
bre  de  bien.77  I  asked  for  his  address,  when  he  called  a 
boy  to  show  me  the  house  ;  so  that  in  fifteen  minutes 
after,  I  was  knocking  at  Mr.  Spr ague's  door,  and  was 
soon  admitted  into  his  hospitable  mansion. 

He  was,  of  course,  surprised  to  see  a  man  of  my  ap 
pearance  walk  boldly  into  his  parlor.  I  soon,  however, 
explained  that  I  was  not  exactly  what  I  appeared  to  be  ; 
that  T  was  an  American  in  distress,  and  throwing  off  my 
great  fur  cap  and  pea-jacket,  looked  somewhat  more  like 
an  American.  I  told  my  story,  and  was  received  and 
treated  like  a  brother.  He  was  just  going  to  take  break 
fast  and  said,  "  You  will  breakfast  with  us,  and  then  I 
will  send  my  nephew,  Mr.  Leach,  with  you  for  your  bun 
dle,  and  you  will  then  return  and  take  up  your  abode 
with  me  during  your  stay  at  Algeciras.77 

After  a  social  breakfast,  having  doffed  rny  cap  and 
pea-jacket,  and  being  supplied  with  a  hat  and  other 
articles  of  dress  to  correspond,  Mr.  Leach  kindly  accom 
panied  me  to  'the  humble  dwelling  of  Maria.  To  my 
great  surprise,  on  entering  the  cabin,  the  poor  woman 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  277 

was  very  distant,  curtesied  with  profound  respect,  andap- 
peared  altogether  like  another  person,  while  the  children 
were  shy,  and  appeared  to  avoid  me.  At  first  I  felt  hurt 
at  the  alteration,  but  a  moment's  reflection  convinced 
me  that  it  was  quite  natural,  and  I  loved  them  not  the 
less  for  their  distant  behaviour  :  while  in  my  disguise, 
they  looked  upon  me  as  one  of  the  family  ;  but  now  the 
circumstances  were  changed,  they  regarded  me  in  quite 
another  light ;  and  I  felt  for  a  moment  that  the  arti 
ficial  rules  of  society  were  chilling  to  a  generous  heart. 
Maria  told  Mr.  Leach  that  she  always  thought  I  was 
a  gentleman,  and  that  she  was  quite  happy  to  serve 
me. 

After  making  the  family  suitable  presents,  I  took  my 
leave,  promising  that  they  should  frequently  see  me 
while  I  remained  in  Algeciras,  which  promise  I  took  care 
rigidly  to  fulfil. 

T  was  now  quite  at  home  with  one  of  the  best  of  men, 
whose  greatest  pleasure  has  ever  been  to  make  others 
happy.  His  excellent  nephew,  William  Leach,  Esq.,  was 
also  a  fine  young  gentleman,  and  as  we  were  all  Ameri 
cans  together,  the  most  perfect-  confidence  reigned 
throughout  this  delightful  family.  During  my  stay  here, 
I  was  amused  with  a  little  incident  that  occurred  while 
at  dinner  at  Mr.  Sprague's  table.  A  young  English 
friend  came  over  on  Sunday  to  dine  with  Mr.  S.  During 
dinner,  Mr.  Sprague  asked  the  young  man  what  was 
said  in  Gibraltar  about  the  captain  of  the  American  let- 
ter-of-marque  having  made  *his  escape  from  the  garrison. 
He  said  that  it  caused  a  great  deal  of  excitement  and 
speculation  ;  some  said  the  lieutenant  who  had  charge 
of  him  was  very  culpable,  and  even  insinuated  that  there 
must  have  been  bribery  connected  with  the  business  ; 
that  it  was  altogether  a  very  strange  affair,  that  a  man 


278  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

should  be  able,  in  open  daylight,  to  make  his  escape  from 
Gibraltar.  After  answering  many  other  questions  on 
the  subject,  he  wound  up  by  saying  that  the  captain 
must  be  a  clever  man,  and  for  his  part  he  wished  him 
God-speed. 

The  young  man  had  no  suspicion  that  I  was  an  Ameri 
can,  or  had  any  connection  with  the  business.  During 
the  conversation,  whenever  I  caught  the  eye  of  Mr. 
Leach;  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  I  could  com 
mand  my  countenance.  Every  thing,  however,  passed 
off  very  well,  and  we  often  joked  on  the  subject  of  the 
honest  simplicity  of  their  young  English  friend. 

I  remained  from  day  to  day  at  Algeciras,  anxiously 
waiting  to  hear  from  my  two  lieutenants,  Messrs.  De- 
peyster  and  Allen  ;  in  hopes  that  they  would  by  some 
means  be  able  to  make  their  escape,  and  not  be  sent  prison 
ers  to  England.  During  the  day-time  I  used  frequently  to 
ride  in  the  country  with  Mr.  Sprague.  In  the  evening 
we  often  made  up  an  agreeable  whist  party,  and,  among 
other  social  enjoyments,  my  young  friend  Leach  in 
troduced  me  to  two  or  three  respectable  and  very  agree 
able  Spanish  families.  In  these  families  I  spent  many 
pleasant  evenings,  and  had  my  officers  and  crew  been 
at  liberty,  I  should  have  been  quite  contented  and  happy. 

At  length,  after  waiting  at  Algeciras  about  ten  days, 
I  learned  with  pain  and  sincere  regret  that  all  my  offi 
cers  and  men  had  been  sent  as  prisoners  to  England, 
and  I  now  began  seriously  to  think  of  leaving  this  place 
for  Cadiz. 

There  are  only  two  wrays  of  travelling  with  safety 
in  Spain :  one  is  genteel  and  expensive,  viz.,  with 
a  strong  guard  of  soldiers  ;  the  other  is  in  simple  dis 
guise,  so  that  no  robber  can  feel  any  interest  in  mo 
lesting  you  on  the  road.  This  mode  I  determined  to  adopt. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  279 

Algeciras  lies  in  lat.  36°  7'  North,  long.  5°  24'  West, 
on  the  west  side  of  Gibraltar  Bay,  and  distant  from  that 
place  by  water  about  eight  miles  ;  while  to  go  round 
the  bay  by  land  is  about  double  the  distance,  say  seven 
teen  or  eighteen  miles.  It  contains  a  population  of  about 
4,500  to  5.000  souls,  has  a  good  harbor  and  considerable 
traffic.  It  is  a  very  old  city,  and  in  ancient  times  was 
strongly  fortified. 

Mr.  Sprague*  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  has 
long  been  the  American  Consul  at  Gibraltar.  He  is 
extensively  known  and  universally  beloved  and  re 
spected.  His  house  has  been  for  many  years  the  seat 
of  a  generous  hospitality.  Although  he  has  resided  so 
long  abroad,  he  has  not  lost  a  particle  of  American  feel 
ing,  or  the  ardor  of  a  true  patriot.  His  nephew,  Mr. 
William  Leach,  is  also  a  worthy,  gentlemanly  man,  of  su 
perior  abilities,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  by  me  with 
deep  gratitude. 

After  remaining  in  Algeciras  about  a  fortnight,  I 
hired  a  mule  and  a  guide  to  proceed  with  me  to  Cadiz. 
My  kind  friends  furnished  me  with  provisions  and 
stores  for  a  journey  of  two  days.  I  procured  a  dress 
such  as  the  peasants  wear  in  this  part  of  Andalusia, 
and  thus  prepared,  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  De 
cember,  1814,  bade  adieu  to  my  two  excellent  coun 
trymen,  from  whom  I  had  received  so  many  disinterested 
favors. 

After  leaving  the  town,  we  travelled  about  a  league 
on  a  tolerably  smooth  road,  and  then  turned  off  into  a 
winding  footpath.  I  was  on  the  mule,  and  my  guide,  a 


*  When  this  narrative  was  written,  Mr.  Sprague  was  alive,  but  I  am  sorry 
to  say.  ho  is  now  dead  Without  this  explanation,  there  would  be  a  discre 
pancy  in  the  relation  of  this  part  of  my  history. 


280  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

merry  fellow,  trudged  along  on  foot,  sometimes  by  my 
side,  sometimes  a  few  yards  ahead,  and  when  we  came 
to  a  smooth  path,  I  allowed  him  to  ride  on  the  beast  be 
hind  me.  The  distance  from  Algeciras  to  Cadiz  is  about 
forty  miles,  and  it  was  our  intention  to  go  to  Medina 
and  put  up  for  the  night.  I  soon  found  we  had  a  very 
intricate  and  difficult  journey  to  perform.  The  whole 
country  presented  a  most  wild  and  desolate  appearance  ; 
in  fact  it  seemed  to  me  that  there  could  have  been  little 
or  no  change  in  this  part  of  Spain,  for  the  last  five  or 
six  centuries.  There  Were  no  public  roads,  a  very  thin 
and  scattered  population,  that  lived  in  a  wretched  state 
of  poverty. 

Sometimes  we  travelled  through  deep  and  dark  ra 
vines,  overgrown  with  trees  and  bushes  :  and  after 
passing  a  deep  and  gloomy  dell,  where  we  lost  sight 
of  the  sun  at  times  for  a  space  of  half  an  hour,  we 
would  then  commence  ascending  a  high  mountain.  We 
generally  found  a  time-worn  foot-path  running  in  a  zigzag 
direction  up  these  dreary  mountains.  This  mode  of 
ascending  would,  in  seaman's  phrase,  be  called  "beat 
ing  up.7' 

The  progress- certainly  is  slow  and  fatiguing,  but  the 
traveller  is  richly  rewarded  for  all  his  toil,  when  once  on 
the  top  of  one  of  these  stupendous  mountains.  Here  he 
has  a  splendid  view  of  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  and  the 
broad  Atlantic  on  the  south  and  east,  while  the  wild  and 
unbroken  scenery  of  the  surrounding  country  is  truly 
magnificent. 

We  continued  to  travel  on  in  this  manner  until 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  we  came  to  a 
miserable  posada.  Here  we  stopped  to  feed  the  mule 
and  rest  and  refresh  ourselves  for  an  hour,  and  found,  to 
my  great  surprise,  we  had  only  made  about  ten  miles 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  281 

from  Algeciras,  and  were  still  about  the  same  distance 
from  Medina. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  can  scarcely  believe 
that  an  old  country  like  Spain  is  in  such  a  wretched 
condition  as  I  found  this  part  of  it ;  without  roads,  the 
land  generally  uncultivated,  without  hotels  or  taverns  to 
accommodate  strangers,  and  infested  with  robbers  and 
banditti  ;  even  in  the  vicinity  of  cities  and  large  towns, 
there  is  no  safety  in  travelling  without  a  military  guard. 
This  is  certainly  a  gloomy  picture  of  poor  Spain — once  so 
great  and  powerful,  now  distracted  by  factions  and  civil 
war,  divested  of  the  greatest  part  of  her  once  rich  colo 
nies,  her  government  weak,  without  money  and  without 
credit. 

There  are  many  causes  for  this  sad  downfall,  but  the 
principal  are,  ignorance,  idleness,  superstition,  priest 
craft,  and  bad  government. 

Oh,  happy  America !  how  glorious  art  thou  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth !  Long  may  an  all-wise  Being 
shower  his  blessings  upon  thee,  and  keep  thee  from  the 
wiles  of  superstition  and  popery  ! 

My  guide  Manuel  said  the  mule  was  ready,  and  he 
only  waited  my  pleasure  to  proceed.  I  said.  "  Adios, 
Senor,"  to  our  ignorant  posadero,  and  we  were  again 
wending  our  intricate  way  towards  Medina.  It  is  im 
possible  for  me  to  describe  the  windings  and  turnings, 
the  up  hill  and  down  course  of  these  villainous  passage 
ways.  (I  will  not  call  them  roads,  for  they  deserve  not  the 
name.) 

At  length  we  caught  sight  of  the  desired  city  where 
we  were  to  remain  during  the  approaching  night.  On 
beholding  Medina  I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  beauti 
ful  simile  of  the  Saviour's,  that  "  a  city  set  on  a  hill  can 
not  be  hid."  This  is  literally  true  with  respect  to  Medi- 


282  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [  1814. 

na  ;  it  stands  on  a  high  hill,  its  walls,  churches  and  hou 
ses  are  all  plastered  and  whitened,  and  it  may  be  seen  at 
a  great  distance  in  every  direction.  For  about  a  league 
before  we  reached  this  elevated  city,  we  came  into  a  more 
pleasant  country  ;  we  now  and  then  met  with  patches  of 
cultivated  and  pasture  land,  and  saw  also  occasionally  a 
small  Hacienda,  with  running  brooks  and  marks  of  civil 
ization.  In  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  town,  I 
frequently  saw  small  stone  bridges,  which  appeared  ex 
tremely  ancient  ;  they  were  evidently  not  built  in  mod 
ern  days,  but  were  probably  erected  either  by  the  Ro 
mans  or  Moors,  in  the  olden  times,  when  Spain  was  sub 
dued  by  these  ancient  and  once  powerful  nations,  For 
some  distance  around  the  foot  of  the  hill  or  mountain  on 
which  Medina  is  located,  the  grounds  are  pleasantly  di 
versified  with  olive  fields,  orange  gardens  and  green 
meadows,  on  which  herds  of  cattle  were  grazing.  When 
we  passed  through  these  rural  scenes,  the  weather  was 
soft  and  fine,  and  here  we  inhaled  the  light  and  exhila 
rating  air  from  the  orange  groves.  What  a  delightful 
country !  God  has  done  every  thing  for  this  people,  but 
they  have  done  nothing  for  themselves.  How  lovely  is 
nature  when  softened  and  cultivated  by  the  hand  of  in 
dustry,  and  how  happy  is  man  when  governed  by  just 
and  righteous  principles,  for  the  benefit  of  himself  and 
his  fellow-man ! 

Fortunately  we  arrived  at  this  singular  city  just  before 
sundown,  which  enabled  me  to  enjoy  a  beautiful  view 
from  its  high  walls,  while  the  sun  was  gilding  with  its 
setting  rays  the  towers  of  the  churches,  and  the  clouds 
and  mountains  beyond  them.  It  certainly  was  not  so 
grand  and  sublime  as  that  which  I  saw  in  the  morning 
from  the  top  of  the  lofty  mountains,  but  it  was  truly  de 
lightful  to  behold  the  peaceful  scenery  of  pastoral  life, 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  283 

contrasted  with  the  wild  and  savage  ravines  in  the  back 
ground  of  the  picture.  Who  can  behold  such  scenes  as 
these  and  not  become  a  better  man,  while  thus  looking 
through  nature  up  to  nature's  God?  "  How  wonderful 
are  thy  works,  0  God,  in  wisdom  hast  Thou  made  them 
all." 

My  guide  led  me  to  a  miserable  posada  to  put  up  for 
the  night.  When  I  asked  for  a  room,  I  was  shown  into 
a  dark,  gloomy,  prison-like  place  about  ten  feet  square, 
with  a  stone  floor  and  but  one  chair,  without  a  bed  or  a 
table,  and  all  I  could  get  from  the  posadero  was  a  few 
boiled  eggs,  with  some  sour  wine.  Fortunately,  my 
kind  friends  in  Algeciras  had  provided  stores  for  myself 
and  guide  ;  so  that  with  the  eggs  and  wine  we  made  a 
tolerable  supper.  Being  fatigued  with  the  day's  ride,  I 
asked  for  a  bed,  when  a  coarse  one  of  straw  was  brought 
and  spread  upon  the  stone  floor,  without  either  blanket, 
sheet,  or  pillow.  I  threw  myself  upon  this  bed,  and, 
with  my  cloak  for  a  covering,  was  soon  asleep,  and 
scarcely  awoke  until  roused  at  daylight,  by  my  guide,  to 
resume  our  journey. 

Whether  Manuel  took  me  to  this  miserable  stopping 
place  from  motives  of  policy — to  avoid  suspicion  and  ob 
servation — I  know  not.  It  is,  however,  more  than  prob 
able  that  there  are  better  lodging-houses  for  those  better 
acquainted  with  the  town.  I  had  entire  confidence  in  my 
guide,  he  being  recommended  by  my  kind  friends  Messrs. 
Sprague  and  Leach,  and  was  therefore  satisfied.  After 
settling  our  bill,  we  were  soon  on  the  road  descending 
from  the  lofty  city.  I  regret  I  had  not  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  more  of  the  town,  but  as  we  had  not  made  but 
half  the  journey,  and  Cadiz  was  still  twenty-two  miles 
distant,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  hasten  our  depart 
ure.  I  saw  it  was  a  walled  town,  and  was  told  it  con- 


284  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1814. 

tained  about  eight  or  ten  thousand  inhabitants  ;  with  a 
fort,  or  castle,  two  or  three  churches,  five  or  six  monaste 
ries  and  two  hospitals,  and  that  there  were  several  man 
ufactories  of  earthenware,  which  was  principally  sold  in 
Cadiz  and  Seville. 

After  leaving  Medina,  we  found  the  country  less  moun 
tainous  and  the  roads  tolerably  good.  We  passed 
through  several  small  towns  and  villages,  and  as  we 
drew  near  to  Cadiz,  were  able  to  purchase  the  ordinary 
necessaries  of  life.  Notwithstanding  we  had  only  a 
journey  of  twenty-two  miles  from  Medina,  we  did  not 
arrive  in  Cadiz  until  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  the 
28th  of  December,  1814.  Here  I  put  up  at  one  of  the 
principal  hotels  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  I 
settled  with  and  dispatched  my  guide  ;  we  parted  mutu 
ally  satisfied.  I  then  sallied  out  in  pursuit  of  my  own 
countrymen,  and  soon  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with 
an  old  friend,  James  Haggarty,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Rich 
mond.  Virginia.  I  immediately  took  lodgings  with  that 
gentleman,  in  a  private -family,  which  consisted  of  a 
widow  lady  and  her  four  daughters.  Senora  Quartini 
was  a  native  of  Cadiz,  and  a  kind,  excellent  woman. 
The  daughters  were  very  amiable  and  obliging,  and  from 
their  frequent  intercourse  with  American  gentlemen, 
two  of  them  had  acquired  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of 
the  English  language.  These  benevolent  people  were 
full  of  sympathy  and  kindness.  They  were  truly  pious, 
without  ostentation,  and  although  Roman  Catholics,  were 
free  from  bigotry.  Their  goodness  of  heart  and  simple 
manners  made  even  strangers  feel  perfectly  at  home,  and 
I  regarded  myself  as  fortunate  in  becoming  an  inmate 
of  this  delightful  family. 

My  friend  H.  introduced  me  to  our  Consul,  Joseph  E. 
Bloomfield,  Esq.,  and  also  to  Richard  W.  Mead,  Esq., 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS  285 

and  his  amiable  family.  Mr.  Mead,  was  from  Philadel 
phia,  and  a  resident  merchant  here  at  this  time.  During 
my  stay,  I  experienced  much  hospitality  both  from  our 
worthy  Consul  and  Mr.  Mead.  The  latter  gentleman 
politely  gave  me  a  free  ticket  to  his  box  in  the  theatre, 
and  rendered  me  many  little  civilities,  which  are  always 
gratifying  to  a  stranger.  My  friend  Haggarty  was  al- 
always  ready  to  negotiate  my  drafts  on  Bordeaux  or 
London,  so  that,  as  far  as  personal  comfort  was  concerned, 
I  had  nothing  to  complain  of.  A  few  days  after  my  ar 
rival  here,  1  received  a  letter  from  my  friend  William 
Leach,  Esq.,  informing  me  that  the  good  old  Norwegian, 
soon  after  I  left  Algeciras,  came  over  from  Gibraltar  to 
see  me,  and  that  he  had  been  unable  to  learn  the  fate  of 
my  officers.  The  letter  also  brought  me  glad  tidings  of 
the  victory  of  General  Brown  over  the  British,  at  Fort 
Erie,  and  of  the  prospect  of  an  early  treaty  of  peace  be 
ing  agreed  upon  by  the  ambassadors  of  the  two  nations, 
at  Ghent. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1815,  I  wrote  to  my  first 
lieutenant,  informing  him  of  my  movements  since  we 
parted  at  Gibraltar,  and  inclosed  him  a  supply  of  money 
and  the  letters  of  introduction,  so  kindly  given  to  me  by 
Captain  Wise,  and  Lieutenant  Daly,  hoping  that  they  might 
be  of  use  to  him  and  the  other  officers  if  they  were  sent 
to  England. 

The  Spaniards  are  a  peculiar  people,  and  their  charac 
ter  can  only  be  learned  by  a  long  residence  in  their 
country.  An  intelligent  Spaniard  prides  himself  more 
on  what  his  country  has  been,  than  on  what  it  is  at 
present.  He  mourns  over  her  fallen  greatness,  and  shrugs 
his  shoulders  with  a  sigh, 

The  higher  classes  are  extremely  romantic,  both  in 
love  and  friendship,  and  they  consider  their  word,  fully 


286  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

equal  to  a  sealed  bond.     This  high  sense  of  honor  some 
times  descends  even  to  the  highway  robber  ;  for  example, 
I  once  knew  a  gentleman  who  was  robbed  of  $400  (all 
the  money  he  had  with  him),  on  the  highway  from  Seville 
to  Cadiz.     He  observed  that  his  was  a  hard  case,  that  he 
had  not  sufficient  means  to  defray  his  expenses  back   to 
Cadiz.    The  robber  observed,  "  Amigo  meo,77  (how  much 
will  be  sufficient  to   pay   expenses  on  the  road  ?)     The 
gentleman  replied,  "  I  think  about  fifteen  or  twenty  dol 
lars."     The  robber  handed  him  twenty  dollars,  with  a 
pompous  air,  and  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
said  :  "  Take  it,  and  don't  say,  on  your  return  to  Cadiz, 
that  you  met  with  a  robber,  who  was  incapable  of  a  gen 
erous  action.77     The   ladies   also   partake   of  the    same 
characteristic  traits  ;  they  are  very  effeminate  and  inter 
esting,  with  soft  and  pleasing  manners,  and  though  so 
gentle  and  fascinating,   are,  when  roused,  perfect  hero 
ines  in  courageous  action.     At  the  time  of  which  I  am 
writing  there  was  a  large  circus  or  amphitheatre  in  the 
vicinity    of    Cadiz,    spacious    enough    to    accommodate 
10,000  people.     I  have  seen  the  edifice  filled  to  over 
flowing  with  all  classes  of  the  community,  from  the  Gov 
ernor  and  the  public  authorities  of  the  town  with  their 
families,    down  to   the  common  boatmen  and  laborers, 
collected  together  to  see  three  or  four  men,   on  foot  and 
on  horseback,  fight  and    kill   eight    or  ten    wild    bulls. 
When  a  bull  has   shown  uncommon  fury,  and  a  corres 
ponding  degree  of  coolness  and  courage  was  displayed 
on  the  part  of  the  matadors,  I  have  seen  this  vast  assem 
blage  thrown  into  perfect  ecstasies,  and  the  fine  ladies  in 
the  boxes  wave  their  white  handkerchiefs  with  enthusi 
astic  cries  of  "  Yiva,  Viva,77  and  throw  down   garlands 
of  flowers  to  the  matadors  in  the  arena. 

After  relating  these   apparent  contradictions  in   the 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  287 

Spanish  character,  I  think  it  will  readily  be  conceded 
that  it  requires  a  long  residence  among  them  fully  to 
understand  their  peculiarities.  I  have  been  for  many 
years  in  communication  with  Spain  and  her  colonies, 
and  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  there  is  less  me 
dium  in  the  Spanish  character  than  among  other  nations, 
and  that  there,  the  best  and  the  worst  people  in  the 
world  are  to  be  found. 

I  was  living  here  perfectly  at  leisure,  and,  what  with 
the  social  intercourse  of  the  friendly  family  with  whom 
I  lodged,  the  theatre  and  other  public  amusements,  I 
found  the  time  passed  away  pleasantly  and  rapidly. 

On  the  14th  of  January  I  received  a  warm-hearted 
letter  from  my  kind  and  ever  obliging  friend  Horatio 
Sprague,  in  which  he  mentioned  that  my  escape  had 
been  the  wonder  of  Gibraltar,  that  an  unremitted 
search  was  made  for  me  during  three  days,  both  in  the 
city  and  among  the  vessels  in  the  bay,  and  that  the  no 
ble  old  Norwegian  was  fairly  infested  with  midshipmen 
and  others  searching  after  me.  Although  I  was  agree 
ably  located  in  Cadiz,  and  found  many  kind  friends  from 
whom  I  had  received  much  hospitality  and  friendly  fa 
vors,  still  I  was  an  idler,  and  began  to  tire  of  such  an 
inactive,  useless  life  ;  and  as  there  was  no  prospect  of 
obtaining  a  passage  home  from  this  place,  I  decided  to 
take  passage  in  a  small  Portuguese  schooner  for  Lisbon. 
This  was  a  coasting  vessel,  manned  with  a  captain,  mate, 
and  ten  men,  just  double  the  number  of  men  that  would 
be  employed  to  navigate  an  American  vessel  of  the  same 
size.  In  this  schooner  I  agreed  for  a  berth  in  the  cabin, 
and  was  to  furnish  my  own  stores,  with  the  proviso, 
that  the  cook  should  likewise  do  all  the  cooking  I  might 
require.  With  this  understanding,  I  purchased  a  few 


288  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

hams,  a  bag  of  bread,  a  demijohn  of  wine,  tea,  sugar, 
coffee,  and  other  stores,  sufficient  for  fifteen  days. 

The  schooner  being  ready,  I  bade  adieu  to  all  my 
friends  in  Cadiz  on  the  15th  of  February,  having 
been  there  just  forty-nine  days,  I  sailed  out  of  the 
bay  with  a  heavy  heart  at  parting  with  so  many  who 
were  true  and  faithful.  I  had  a  few  choice  books  with 
me  to  read  on  the  passage,  and  had  become  so  much 
accustomed  to  all  kinds  of  life,  that  I  felt  I  should  be 
able  to  accommodate  myself  to  almost  any  condition.  I 
soon  found  that  the  captain  was  a  good  disciplinarian, 
and  managed  his  vessel  very  well.  Although  he  had 
never  made  a  foreign  voyage,  he  knew  the  coast,  and 
understood  his  business,  and  I  felt  myself  fortunate  in 
having  fallen  into  such  good  hands. 

This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  sailed  under  the 
Portuguese  flag,  and  many  of  their  customs  were  quite 
new  to  me.  One  peculiarity  I  never  witnessed  before. 

Three  times  a  day  the  captain  summoned  every  body 
on  board  to  the  quarter-deck  ;  then  they  all  knelt  down, 
morning,  noon,  and  evening,  and  repeated  their  pray 
ers,  the  captain  always  taking  the  lead.  The  schooner 
was  a  dull  sailer,  and  as  we  had  generally  light  winds, 
we  did  not  reach  Cape  St,  Yincent  until  the  fifth  day 
after  leaving  Cadiz.  This  is  a  high,  bold  cape,  lying  in 
lat.  37°  3'  North,  long.  9°  2'  West.  We  passed  close 
to  this  conspicuous  headland,  I  should  think  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  distant,  on  the  20th  of  February,  at  4 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  captain  called  all 
hands  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  addressed  them  as  fol 
lows  :  "  Officers  and  men,  it  has  pleased  God  to  bring 
us  in  safety  thus  far  on  our  voyage  ;  now  let  us  all 
kneel  down  and  thank  him  for  his  goodness  and  mercy 


1815.]  THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  289 

to  us  poor  sinners,  and  beseech  him  to  conduct  us  in 
safety  to  our  destined  port.'7  They  were,  I  should 
think,  some  fifteen  of  twenty  minutes  occupied  in  prayer 
and  then  returned  to  their  ordinary  avocations. 

We  crept  slowly  along  the  shore,  and  on  the  23d  of 
February  got  safe  into  Lisbon,  after  a  passage  of  eight 
days.  I  regret  that  I  recollect  neither  the  captain's 
name  nor  that  of  his  vessel.  I  had  made  so  many  voy 
ages  to  this  place,  that  upon  landing  I  felt  quite  at 
home,  and  was  soon  in  the  society  of  many  of  my  own 
countrymen.  I  met  in  Lisbon  a  New  York  friend, 
James  L.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  who  came  out  to  that  place 
supercargo  of  an  American  vessel,  and  was,  like  myself, 
very  desirous  of  returning  to  New  York.  Mr.  Ken 
nedy,  during  his  stay  in  Lisbon,  became  acquainted 
with  a  Portuguese  house  in  the  wine  trade.  These 
gentlemen  owned  a  nice  little  brig  of  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty  tons  burthen,  called  the  Tres  Hermanos. 
They  loaded  her  with  a  cargo  of  wine,  oil,  etc.,  and 
agreed  with  him  to  proceed  in  her  to  New  York  as  su 
percargo,  with  liberty  to  return  again  to  Lisbon  in  the 
brig,  or  remain  in  New  York,  whichever  should  suit  his 
interest.  She  was  commanded  by  a  very  young  man, 
with  but  little  experience,  and  had  a  miserable  set  of 
Portuguese  sailors.  In  this  brig  one  of  the  owners  of 
fered  me  a  passage,  free  from  charge,  upon  condition 
that  I  would  assist  the  young  captain  with  my  experi 
ence  and  advice.  He  had  never  been  to  the  United 
States,  and  said  he  should  be  very  happy  to  profit  by 
my  experience.  My  friend  Kennedy  was  also  very  de 
sirous  that  I  should  go,  and  said  we  should  enjoy  each 
other's  society,  and  that  would  shorten  the  passage.  I 
must  confess  I  had  some  serious  misgivings  on  the  sub 
ject  of  sailing  under  the  Portuguese  Bag  with  an  ineffi- 
19 


290  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

cient  captain  and  a  filthy  crew  ;  but  as  there  was  no 
American  vessel  to  sail  for  several  weeks,  and  the  treaty 
of  peace  with  Great  Britain  was  not  ratified,  I  concluded 
to  take  passage  in  this  neutral  vessel. 

Before  sailing,  the  principal  owner  told  the  captain  to 
attend  to  the  comfort  of  Mr.  Kennedy  and  myself,  and 
to  treat  us  with  respect,  and  consult  me  always  on  the 
most  judicious  course  to  steer,  etc.,  etc.  He  promised 
to  comply  with  the  request  of  the  owner,  and  with 
much  complacency  said  he  had  no  doubt  we  should  be 
very  happy  together.  All  these  promises  he  most 
shamefully  broke  a  few  days  after  we  got  to  sea.  I  re 
mained  in  Lisbon  just  eighteen  days,  and,  on  the  13th 
of  March,  sailed  in  the  good  brig  Tres  Hermanos  for 
New  York. 

After  getting  to  sea,  I  was  determined  not  to  inter 
fere  with  the  course  of  the  vessel,  nor  to  proffer  my  ad 
vice,  unless  it  was  called  for,  and  then  with  the 
greatest  delicacy  ;  and  never,  in  the  slightest  degree, 
made  any  remark  to  offend  the  mates  or  sailors  du 
ring  the  long  and  tedious  passage.  The  little,  nar 
row-minded  captain  did  not  consult  me  at  all  on  the 
course  of  the  vessel,  and  absolutely  appeared  so  jealous 
of  me,  that  my  position  was  almost  insupportable  ;  and 
had  not  my  friend  Kennedy  been  on  board,  and  the 
brig  bound  to  New  York,  I  should  probably  have  been 
worse  treated  by  these  wretches.  Although  I  scarcely 
exchanged  a  word  with  one  of  his  men  during  the  pas 
sage,  I  once  overheard  them  say  they  should  like  to 
knock  me  in  the  head  and, throw  me  overboard.  In 
lieu  of  steering  a  judicious  course,  and  keeping  a  fair 
distance  to  the  northward  of  the  Western  Islands,  the 
poor  devil  steered  down  among  the  islands,  where  we 
were  becalmed  for  several  days,  and  made  miserable 


1814.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  291 

progress  getting  to  the  westward.  The  brig  was  in 
such  a  filthy  condition,  that  Mr.  Kennedy  and  myself 
suffered  out  of  measure  with  one  of  the  plagues  of 
Egypt.  The  probability  is,  that  before  leaving  Lisbon 
the  sailors  were  allowed  to  sleep  in  the  berths  in  the 
cabin,  and  thus  every  part  of  the  vessel  was  overrun 
with  vermin. 

By  contrary  winds  and  bad  management,  our  passage 
was  prolonged  to  58  days,  On  the  9th  of  May  we  took 
a  Sandy  Hook  pilot,  and  the  same  day  arrived  in  New 
York.  I  was  rejoiced  to  land  once  more  in  the  United 
States,  after  an  absence  of  sixteen  months  and  twenty- 
one  days. 

I  cannot  leave  this  brig  without  warning  my  friends 
and  countrymen  never  to  take  passage  across  the  Atlan 
tic  in  a  Portuguese  vessel  of  any  description. 

On  my  return  home,  I  found  all  my  family  and 
friends  well.  Peace  was  again  restored  to  the  United 
States. 

Seven  arid  a  half  months  after  this  date,  I  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Henry  Allen,  the  worthy  young  man,  who 
was  second  lieutenant  with  me  in  the  Leo,  from  which  I 
make  the  following  extracts  :  — 


SALEM,  December 
Captain  George  Coggeshatt  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  If  you  have  seen  Mr.  Depeyster,  he  has 
probably  informed  you  of  my  unfortunate  attempt  to 
escape  from  Gibraltar. 

After  waiting  about  ten  minutes,  (time  I  thought  suf 
ficient  for  you  to  reach  the  mole),  I  left  the  wine  shop 
in  the  same  manner  as  yourself,  and  had  already  passed 
the  two  gates,  and  was  on  the  mole,  when  I  was  arrested 


292  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

by  the  sergeant  under  whose  charge  we  were,  who  de 
manded,  in  the  most  severe  manner,  where  you  were. 
Sensible  that  you  must  have  been  on  the  mole  at  the 
time,  I  told  him  that  when  you  left  me,  you  were  going 
to  Messrs.  Turnbull  &  Co.'s.  He  immediately  turned 
back,  and  with  myself  proceeded  to  the  house.  After 
gaining  it,  and  passing  away  about  forty-five  minutes, 
he  suspected  I  was  deceiving  him,  consequently  returned 
with  me  to  the  mole  to  make  all  inquiries,  but  in  vain.  He 
left  your  description  with  the  officer  of  the  mole.  He  then 
dragged  me  to  the  town  major,  who  went  immediately 
on  horseback  to  every  passage  in  the  garrison  with  your 
description. 

Fortune  and  my  best  wishes,  however,  favored  your 
escape. 

We  were  carried  to  England,  and  remained  till  the 
29th  of  April,  then  released,  and  I  came  home  as  an 
agent  for  one  of  the  cartels. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


THE  PRIVATEER  YORK,  OF  BALTIMORE.  RETURNS  TO  THAT  PLACE  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL 
CRUISE  ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL,  AND  AMONG  THE  ISLANDS  IN  THE  WEST  INDIES — 
THE  PRIVATEER  PORTSMOUTH  CAPTURES  THE  SHIP  JAMES,  OF  LONDON — THE  JAMES  AR 
RIVES  AT  PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H.— REMARKS  ON  PRIVATEERS  IN  NOVEMBER,  1814 — 
A  GREAT  MEETING  OF  MERCHANTS  OF  LIVERPOOL,  ENGLAND.  ON  THE  9TH  OF  SEP 
TEMBER,  TO  PETITION  THEIR  GOVERNMENT  TO  PROTECT  THEM  AGAINST  AMERICAN 
PRIVATEERS— THE  TRUE-BLOODED  YANKEE,  PRIVATEER,  SAILS  FROM  BREST,  ON  THE 
24TH  OF  NOVEMBER,  1814,  ON  A  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL — ANECDOTE  TO 
SHOW  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  TIMES — ANECDOTE  ABOUT  AN  AMERICAN  AND  A  BRITISH 
OFFICER — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ANN  DOROTHEA,  SENT  INTO  BOSTON 
BY  THE  SARATOGA — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRIG  HIRAM  BY  THE  M&.VID  PORTER,  OF  BOSTON 
— ARRIVAL  OF  THE  GRAND  TURK  AT  SALEM,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE — SEVERE 
CONFLICT  BETWEEN  THE  SAUCY  JACK  AND  TWO  BRITISH  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SHIPS,  OFF 
ST.  DOMINGO — HARD  FIGHT,  AND  CAPTURE  OF  SEVERAL  BRITISH  MERCHANTMEN,  BY 
THE  KEMP,  PRIVATEER  OF  BALTIMORE — CAPTURE  OF  THE  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  GENERAL 
WILLOUGHBY  BY  THE  YANKEE,  ORDERED  FOR  CHARLESTON — CRUISE  OF  THE  PRI 
VATEER  HARPY — HER  CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  GARLAND — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
ENGLISH  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  STAR,  BY  THE  SURPRISE. 


THE  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  having  returned 
safe  home  from  a  successful  cruise  on  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
and  among  the  Islands  in  the  West  Indies,  we  find  in 
connection  with  this  fortunate  vessel  the  following  re 
marks,  published  in  a  weekly  journal  at  that  time  : 

"  The  successful  cruises  of  our  privateers,  speak  in  a 
voice  of  thunder,  and  tell  Congress  how  the  enemy 
should  be  assailed.  The  prizes  of  the  York,  privateer, 
are  worth  at  least,  a  million  and  a  half  dollars.  It  is 
true  that  the  two  richest  prizes  recently  captured  by  the 
York,  may  be  recaptured  by  the  enemy,  still  the  priva 
teer  will  reap  a  plentiful  harvest  from  the  spoils  with 
which  she  is  laden. 

"  We  hope  and  trust  the  Navy  department  will  be  di- 

(293) 


294  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

rected  to  fit  out  fifty  such  vessels  as  the  York,  to  cruise 
during  the  coming  winter,  with  orders  to  burn,  sink  and 
destroy  the  enemy's  property,  which  we  hope  may 
amount  to  some  fifteen  or  twenty  millions  of  dollars. 
Perhaps  this  is  the  best  way  to  fight  England  at  sea,- 
after  all.  We  have  already  reaped  a  full  harvest  of 
naval  glory,  and  we  should  now  attack  the  foe  in  the 
way  that  we  can  do  him  the  most  essential  injury." 

The  York  did  not  lose  a  single  man  during  her  cruise 
of  thirteen  weeks 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

• 

The  following  prizes  were  taken  by  the  Surprise,  and 
burnt :  brig  Queen  Charlotte,  ship  Milnes,  brig  Lively, 
schooner  Prince  Regent,  brig  Willing  Maid,  brig  Polly, 
schooner  Sally.  The  English  privateer  Lively,  1  gun, 
17  men,  brought  into  Salem.  Ship  Caledonia,  from 
Cork  for  Quebec,  with  dry-goods  rum,  etc.,  worth 
$250,000,  divested  her  of  goods  to  the  value  of  $50, 000. 
Brigs  Eagle,  Traveller,  Wellington  (4  guns  and  15 
men),  and  Eliza,  were  made  cartels  of,  to  release  the  pri 
soners.  The  Surprise  also  captured  the  brig  Albion, 
schooner  Charlotte  Ann,  and  recaptured  the  boat 
Ann. 

The  privateer  Surprise,  belonged  to  Baltimore,  and  was 
a  very  fortunate  vessel.  During  her  last  cruise,  which 
only  occupied  one  month,  she  captured  twenty  sail  of 
British  merchantmen,  including  one  small  privateer. 
She  made  197  prisoners,  released  160,  and  brought  into 
port  37.  She  divested  the  ship  Caledonia,  and  other 
prizes,  of  British  goods  to  the  amount  of  $60,000,  and 
arrived  safe  at  Salem,  laden  with  rich  spoils  taken  from 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  295 

the  enemy.  Soon  after  she  captured  the  Caledonia,  the 
English  sailors  left  on  board  recaptured  her,  but  fortu 
nately  the  privateer  fell  in  with  her  again,  took  out  all 
the  Englishmen,  arid  sent  her  into  Salem. 

A  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland  paper  of  Sept.  8th,  men 
tions  the  capture  of  several  vessels  by  the  Surprise,  and 
adds,  Captain  Sexton,  of  the  Endeavor,  McFarlane,  of 
the  Caledonia,  Captain  Reid,  of  the  Milnes,  with  their 
crews,  were  landed  this  morning  from  the  brig  Traveller. 
They  speak  in  the  handsomest  terms  of  the  politeness 
and  attention  they  experienced  from  Captain  Barnes 
and  his  officers,  during  the  time  they  were  on  board  the 
privateer. 

Three  vessels,  captured  by  the  Shark,  of  New  York, 
off  the  coast  of  Portugal,  and  being  of  little  value,  were 
gi\7en  up.  Two  others  were  manned,  -and  ordered  for 
the  United  States. 

•  Ketch  Expedition,  with  75  pipes  of  wine,  and  1,150 
quintals  of  barilla,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Grampus, 
of  Baltimore. 

Schooner ,  with  dry-goods,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 

Viper,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Catherine  and  William,  of  London,  with  dry- 
goods,  prize  to  the  Grampus,  lost  near  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  on 
the  20th  of  Sept. 

Cutter  Flying  Fish,  with  sweet  oil,  captured  b}^ 
the  Sabine,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  a  southern  port. 

Brig  Aaron,  with  wine  and  codfish,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  sent  into  an  eastern  port. 

Two  ships  taken  by  the  Syren,  off  the  British  coast, 
and  destroyed. 

The  Steady,  from  Bordeaux  for  Newfoundland,  and 
the  James,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce,  taken  and  burnt,  by 
the  Prince  of  Neufchatel. 


296  THB    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Brig  Colier,  from  Cork  for  Quebec,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  provisions,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Alicant,  for  Newfoundland,  with 
salt  and  wine,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of 
the  latter,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  relieve  her  of  pri 
soners. 

Brig  Elizabeth,  from  Cork  for  Newfoundland,  cap 
tured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Ship  -  — ,  of  8  guns,  from  Greenock  for  Newfound 
land,  with  dry-goods  and  wine,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested  of  her  cargo,  and  sent  into  port. 

The  Amelia  also  captured,  and  ordered  into  port  the 
brig  Ann,  with  a  valuable  cargo.  She  had  a  short  com 
bat  with  the  Neptune,  but  no  person  was  hurt  on  either 
side.  When  last.heard  of,  she  had  32  prisoners  onboard, 
who  were  very  troublesome.  After  manning  all  her 
prizes,  she  had  only  58  of  her  crew  left. 

British  schooner  -  — ,  captured  by  the  Leach,  of 
Salem,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Sloop  Jane,  70  tons,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce,  for  Fal- 
mouth,  captured  by  the  Prince  of  Neufchatel,  privateer, 
of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Triton,  187  tons,  two  guns,  from  Cadiz  for  Lon 
don,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  captured  by  the  same,  part 
of  the  cargo  taken  out  and  the  vessel  sunk. 

Transport  brig  Aaron,  142  tons,  4  guns,  from  Gib 
raltar  for  Lisbon,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Apollo,  135  tons,  from  St.  Ubes  for  Riga,  with 
a  cargo  of  salt,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Cutter  General  Doyle,  87  tons,  coppered,  from  Leg 
horn  for  Bristol,  with  a  cargo  of  oil,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  burnt. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  297 

Sloop  George,  50  tons,  from  Milford  Haven  for  Ply 
mouth,  with  coals,  taken  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Barewick  Packet,  from  Cork  for  Bristol,  in  bal 
last,  with  50  passengers,  taken  by  the  same,  and  made  a 
cartel  of. 

Brig  Sibron,  200  tons  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig .  Nymph,  150  tons,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  di 
vested  of  the  dry-goods  ;  the  rest  of  the  cargo  was  thrown 
overboard.  The  Nymph  was  then  given  up  to  the  pri 
soners. 

Brig  Albion,  155  tons,  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her  valuable  articles,  and 
burnt. 

Ship  Harmony,  290  tons,  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  divested,  and  ordered  into  port. 
She  was  retaken  by  the  English  a  few  days  after. 

Brig  Charlotte,  190  tons,  8  guns,  from  Rio  Janeiro, 
with  a  cargo  of  hides,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Mary  Ann,  103  tons,  from  St.  Johns  for  Barba- 
does,  with  a  cargo  of  lumber,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Ship  Neptune,  from  Greenock  for  Newfoundland  450 
tons  burthen,  8  guns,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  and  sent 
into  New  York,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  valuable 
goods. 

Schooner  Ann,  with  sugar  and  molasses,  from  Halifax 
for  the  new  British  port  of  Castine,  captured  in  the  fol 
lowing  manner  :  When  she  sailed,  she  had  on  board  4 
American  seamen,  who  shipped  in  Halifax,  and  when 


298  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

off  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river,  they  rose  upon 
the  captain  and  the  remainder  of  the  crew  (6  in  num 
ber),  confined  them  below,  secured  all  the  fire-arms  on 
board,  and  arrived  in  safety  at  Thomastown. 

Ship  James,  from  London  for  Quebec,  with  dry-goods, 
etc.,  captured  by  the  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth,  and 
divested  of  260  bales  and  cases  of  goods,  valued  at  from 
$200,000  to  $300,000,  and  then  ordered  into  port.  The 
privateer,  with  her  rich  spoils  safely  arrived.  The 
cargo  of  the  James  was  invoiced  at  £100,000,  sterling. 
She  safely  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  K.  H. 

Brig ,  captured  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  and  di 
vested  of  150  hhds.  of  rum,  and  given  up.  The  Dash 
arrived  at  Wiscasset. 

Schooner  -  — ,  from  Halifax,  laden  with  salmon  and 
herrings,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  by  a  letter-of- 
marque  schooner  from  that  port, 

STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT  THIS  PERIOD  OF  THE  WAR. 

A  great  many  additional  large  privateers  were  now 
out  during  this  month,  and  sailed  from  and  returned  to 
most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  when  it  best  suited  their 
convenience. 

The  Chesapeake  Bay  was,  at  this  time,  unfortunately 
in  the  power  of  the  enemy,  but  still  the  spirit  of  enter 
prise,  and  skill  of  the  people  residing  on  its  shores  and 
rivers  did  not  relax  in  energy.  And  though  their 
privateers  were  prevented,  for  a  time,  from  entering  the 
ports  of  the  Chesapeake,  they  were  cruising  in  almost 
every  sea,  and  sending  their  prizes  into  the  different  At 
lantic  ports.  Fine  large  schooners  were  built  at  many 
other  places  besides  Baltimore — that  is  to  say,  after 
their  construction. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  299 

• 

Their  beautiful  models  were  imitated  and  adopted  all 
over  the  United  States.  The  capital  of  our  wealthy 
merchants  in  the  the  Atlantic  cities  was  liberally  em 
ployed  in  building  and  fitting  out  privateers  against  our 
common  enemy  ;  for,  thank  God,  we  had  many  harbors 
and  places  that  they  could  not  blockade,  notwithstand 
ing  their  declaration  that  our  ports  were  blockaded  from 
Maine  to  Georgia. 

Among  the  privateers  fitted  out,  were  some  stout  ves 
sels,  one  with  22  long  heavy  guns,  and  two  others  car 
rying  from  20  to  30  guns.  In  a  newspaper  of  this  day, 
we  notice  the  sailing  of  five  privateers,  and  the  building, 
of  three  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston — one  called  the 
Reindeer,  pierced  for  22  guns — a  noble  vessel,  coppered, 
built  of  the  best  material,  and  completed  in  35  working 
days.  On  her  cradle,  the  Avon,  of  the  same  rate,  was  laid 
down  to  be  finished  in  eighteen  working  days.  They 
were  also  building  the  Blakely,  'of  like  size  and  dimen 
sions,  to  be  finished  with  the  same  dispatch.  In  New  York 
they  were  exceedingly  busy  with  vessels  of  this  kind. 
And  the  exertions  of  individuals,  aided  by  the  project 
lately  adopted  by  Congress,  to  fit  out  twenty  vessels, 
which  was  to  be  carried  into  immediate  execution,  in 
order  to  make  the  enemy  feel  the  war  much  more  sensi 
bly  than  he  had  done  ;  giving  a  "  demonstration"  of  his 
inability  to  defend  his  own  coasts,  much  less  to  blockade 
all  the  ports  of  the  world.  But  some  measure  must  be 
provided  to  bring  in  a  part  of  the  prisoners  they  took. 
The  enemy  did  not  acknowledge  paroles  made  at  sea, 
except  in  some  few  isolated  cases,  and  held  many  of  our 
gallant  seamen  in  captivity.  These  brave  fellows  should 
be  released  to  repay  favors  received.  The  balance  of 
prisoners  of  this  class  would  have  been  greatly  in  our 
favor,  if  one  half  of  those  taken  had  been  brought  into 


300  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

port.     There  was  a  real   difficulty   in  doing  it,  but  it 
should  have  been  done,  one  way  or  another. 


PUBLIC  OPINION  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

The  English  papers  teem  with  articles  about  our  pri 
vateers.  Their  fears  and.  sufferings  magnified  their 
numbers  prodigiously  !  The  master  of  a  vessel  who  was 
captured  three  times,  and  as  often  recaptured,  reported 
in  London,  that  he  had  seen  no  less  than  ten  of  these 
terrible  things  during  his  voyage  !  The  Wasp  had 
created  a  wonderful  sensation  ;  and  the  United  States 
brig  Syren  was  playing  a  frightful  tune  ;  she  had  burnt 
many  valuable  vessels.  The  schooners  were  poking 
themselves  into  their  very  ports,  and  John  Bull,  while 
he  grumbled  most  lustily,  was  sorely  mortified,  and  not 
a  little  surprised  at  their  impudence !  Meetings  of  mer 
chants  were  held  at  several  places  to  remonstrate 
against  their  depredations !  We  notice  the  proceedings 
at  Liverpool  and  Glasgow  as  samples  : 

"At  Halifax,  insurance  has  been  absolutely  refused 
on  most  vessels  ;  on  others,  33  per  cent,  has  been  added 
to  the  former  premiums!" 

We  do  not  hear  of  the  capture  of  but  one  pri 
vateer  for  several  weeks  ;  that  was  the  Harlequin,  a  new 
vessel,  elegantly  fitted  from  an  eastern  port.  She  was 
taken  by  the  Bulwark,  74,  by^stratagem.  The  depreda 
tions  of  the  American  privateers  on  the  coasts  of  Ireland 
and  Scotland  had  produced  so  strong  a  sensation  at 
Lloyd's, that  it  was  difficult  to  get  policies  underwritten, 
except  at  enormous  rates  of  premiums.  Thirteen 
guineas  for  £100  was  paid  to  insure  vessels  across  the 
Irish  Channel !  Such  a  thing  never  happened,  we  be 
lieve,  before. 

''  London,  September  ^th. — At  a  meeting  of  merchants, 


1815.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  301 

ship-owners,  etc.,  at  Liverpool,  to  consider  of  a  repre 
sentation  to  government  on  the  subject  of  the  numerous 
captures  made  by  American  cruisers.  Mr.  Gladstone  pro 
posed  an  address  to  the  lords  of  the  Admiralty,  but  after 
many  severe  observations  that  representations  had  been 
made  to  that  department  without  redress,  Mr.  Clear 
proposed  an  address  to  the  Prince  Regent,  which,  after 
warm  opposition  on  the  part  of  Mr.  G-ladstone,  was  car 
ried.  The  address  conveys  a  censure  upon  the  Admi 
ralty.  Subsequently,  a  counter  address  to  the  Admiralty 
was  voted  at  another  meeting,  to  which  Mr.  Crocker  re 
plied,  on  the  3d  inst.,  that  an  ample  force  had  been  un 
der  the  orders  of  the  admirals  commanding  the  western 
stations  ;  and  that,  during  the  time  when  the  enemy's 
depredations  are  stated  to  have  taken  place,  not  fewer 
than  three  frigates  and  fourteen  sloops  were  actually  at 
sea,  for  the  immediate  protection  of  St.  George's  chan 
nel,  and  the  western  and  northern  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom. 

In  the  memorials  of  the  merchants,  etc.,  of  Liver 
pool,  to  the  Admiralty,  complaining  of  a  want  of 
sufficient  naval  protection  against  American  captures, 
they  speak  of  privateers  destroying  vessels  as  a  novel 
and  extraordinary  practice,  which  they  say  they  are  in 
formed  is  promoted  by  pecuniary  rewards  from  the 
American  government,  and  they  wish  measures  adopted 
to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible,  the  ruinous  effects  of 
this  "  new  system  of  warfare." 

At  a  very  numerous  meeting  of  the  merchants, 
manufacturers,  ship-owners,  and  underwriters,  of  the 
city  of  Glasgow,  called  by  a  public  advertisement, 
and  held  by  special  requisition  to  the  Lord  Pro 
vost,  on  Wednesday,  the  7th  of  September,  1814, 
the  Lord  Provost  in  the  Chair,  it  was  "  IJnani- 


302  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

mously  resolved,  that  the  number  of  American  privateers 
with  which  our  channels  have  been  infested,  the  audacity 
with  which  they  have  approached  our  coasts,  and  the 
success  with  which  their  enterprise  has  been  attended, 
have  proved  injurious  to  our  commerce,  humbling  to 
our  pride,  and  discreditable  to  the  directors  of  the  naval 
power  of  the  British  nation,  whose  flag,  till  of  late, 
waved  over  every  sea,  and  triumphed  over  every  rival. 
That  there  is  reason  to  believe,  that  in  the  short  space  of 
less  than  twenty-four  months,  above  eight  hundred  ves 
sels  have  been  captured  by  that  power,  whose  maritime 
strength  we  have  hitherto  impolitically  held  in  contempt. 
That,  at  a  time  when  we  were  at  peace  with  all  the  rest 
of  the  world,  when  the  maintenance  of  our  marine 
costs  so  large  a  sum  to  the  country,  when  the  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests  pay  a  tax  for  protection,  under 
the  form  of  convoy  duty,  and  when,  in  the  plenitude  of 
our  power,  we  have  declared  the  whole  American  coast 
under  blockade,  it  is  equally  distressing  and  mortifying 
that  our  ships  cannot,  with  safety,  traverse  our  own 
channels  ;  that  insurance  cannot  be  effected  but  at  an 
excessive  premium  ;  and  that  a  horde  of  American 
cruisers  should  be  allowed,  unheeded,  unresisted  and  un 
molested,  to  take,  burn  or  sink,  our  own  vessels,  in 
our  own  inlets,  and  almost  in  sight  of  our  own  har 
bors. 

"  That  the  ports  of  the  Clyde  have  sustained  severe 
loss  from  the  depredations  already  committed,  and 
there  is  reason  to  apprehend  still  more  serious  suffering, 
not  only  from  the  extent  of  the  coasting  trade  and  the 
number  of  vessels  yet  to  arrive  from  abroad,  but  as  the 
time  is  fast  approaching  when  the  outward-bound  ships 
must  proceed  to  Cork  for  convoys,  and  when,  during 
the  winter  season,  the  opportunities  of  the  enomy  will 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  303 

be  increased,  both  to  capture  with  ease  and  escape  with 
impunity. 

"  That  the  system  of  burning  and  destroying  every 
article  which  there  is  fear  of  losing — a  system  pur 
sued  by  all  the  cruisers,  and  encouraged  by  their  own 
government — diminishes  the  chances  of  recapture,  and 
renders  the  necessity  of  prevention  more  urgent. 

"  That  from  the  coldness  and  neglect  with  which  previ^ 
ous  remonstrances  from  other  quarters  have  been  re 
ceived  by  the  Admiralty,  this  meeting  reluctantly  feels 
it  an  imperious  duty  at  once  to  address  the  Throne,  and 
that  therefore  a  petition  be  forwarded  to  his  Royal  High 
ness,  the  Prince  Regent,  acting  in  the  name  and  on  be 
half  of  His  Majesty,  representing  the  above  grievances, 
and  humbly  praying  that  his  Royal  Highness  will  be  gra 
ciously  pleased  to  direct  such  measures  to  be  adopted,  as 
shall  promptly  and  effectually  protect  the  trade  on  the 
coast  of  this  kingdom,  from  the  numerous  insulting  and 
destructive  depredations  of  the  enemy ;  and  that  the 
Lord  Provost  be  requested  to  transmit  the  third  petition 
accordingly. 

"That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  Mr, 
Ewing,  for  the  ability  with  which  he  prepared  and  intro 
duced  the  business  of  this  day. 

•'  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  the  gen 
tlemen  who  signed  this  requisition. 

"  R.  FINLAY,  PROVOST." 

The  True  Blooded  Yankee,  American  privateer,  has 
been  completely  refitted  for  sea,  manned  with  a  crew  of 
200  men,  and  sailed  from  Brest  on  the  21st  of  Novem 
ber,  supposed  for  the  purpose  of  cruising  in  the  British 
Channel.  Her  orders  were  to  sink,  burn  and  destroy, 
and  not  to  capture  with  the  intention  of  sending  into 


304  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1515. 

port ;  but  to  divest  all  prizes  of  their  valuable  articles. 
Respecting  this  vessel,  see  appendix. 

POLITICAL    DIVINITY— ANECDOTE    TO   SHOW  THE  SPIRIT    OF   THE 

TIMES. 

"  War  is  a  national  punishment  for  national  sins." 
Good. 

u  The  English  nation  is  more  at  war  than  any  other  in 
Christendom."  True. 

Then  ' '  the  bulwark  of  our  holy  religion  is  the  great 
est  sinner  in  Christendom."  Undeniable  logic. 

"  An  American  officer  who  carried  a  flag  over  to  the 
British  lines,  after  having  dispatched  the  business  of  his 
mission,  was  invited  by  the  commanding  British  officer 
to  dine.  As  usual,  the  wine  was  circulated,  and  a  British 
officer  being  called  upon  for  a  toast,  gave,  "  Mr.  Madi 
son,  dead  or  alive  ;"  which  the  Yankee  drank  without 
appearing  to  notice  it.  When  it  came  to  the  American's 
turn  to  give  a  toast,  he  gave,  "  the  Prince  Regent,  drunk 
or  sober."  "Sir,"  said  the  British  officer,  bristling  up  and 
coloring  with  anger,  "  that  is  an  insult."  "  No,  sir,"  an 
swered  the  American  very  coolly,  "  it  is  only  a  reply  to 


one." 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Concord,  captured  by  a  letter-of-marque  of  Wil 
mington,  N.  C.,  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

Brig  Sir  John  Sherbrook,  12  guns,  from  Halifax  fpr 
Alicant,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  captured  by  the  Syren 
of  Baltimore,  and  driven  on  shore  at  Rockaway,  N.  J., 
to  avoid  a  recapture  by  the  blockading  squadron  off  New 
Jersey.  On  abandoning  her,  the  prize-crew  set  her  on 
fire.  She  was  burnt,  but  her  armament,  etc.,  was  saved. 

Ann  and  Eliza  from  Newfoundland  for  Meramachi,  cap 
tured  by  the  Mammoth  and  destroyed. 


1815.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIYATEERS.  305 

Ships  Urania  and  Anisby,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
also  destroyed. 

Eliza,  from  Newfoundland  for  Prince  Edward's  Isl 
and,  captured  by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

Ship  Dobson  from  Cork  for  Quebec,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Sallust,  from  England  for  Quebec,  captured  by  the 
same,  divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of.  The  Sallust 
arrived  at  Liverpool,  England. 

The  Mammoth,  when  last  heard  of,  namely  by  pri 
soners,  from  Liverpool,  had  been  out  seven  weeks, 
and  made  16  prizes.  She  cruised  17  days  off  Cape 
Clear,  Ireland,  where  several  valuable  vessels  were  man 
ned  by  her  for  the  United  States. 

English  privateer,  Thinks-I-to-Myself,  two  guns,  20 
men,  captured  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  and  taken  into 
that  port. 

Schooner  Britannia,  in  ballast,  commanded  by  Capt. 
Freeman,  late  of  the  privateer  Liverpool  Packet,  cap 
tured  by  the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Halifax  Packet,  from  Aberdeen  for  Halifax,  with 
a  valuable  cargo  of  dry-goods,  hardware,  and  sundries, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  divested  of  her  richest  arti 
cles.  She  arrived  at  Portsmouth.  N.  H. 

The  Harpy  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and 
returned  there  after  a  cruise  of  twenty  days,  laden  with 
the  choicest  spoils  of  the  foe,  and  sixty  prisoners.  She 
also  captured  the  transport  ship  Amazon,  6  guns,  18 
men,  an  elegant  vessel,  from  London  for  Halifax,  with 
a  cargo  of  provisions.  Also,  the  transport  ship  Budges, 
440  tons,  six  18-pound  carronades,  with  a  large  cargo 
of  rum,  brandy,  beef,  pork,  flour  and  bread — both  of 
which  were  manned  and  ordered  into  port.  Among  the 
prisoners  brought  in,  are  two  majors,  and  several  other 
20 


306  TlIE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

officers.  These  two  vessels  belonged  to  the  fleet  that 
lately  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  England.  The  prizes  of 
the  Harpy,  may  be  moderately  valued  at  $400,000  to 
$500,000 

Schooner  Prince  Regent,  380  bbls.  alewives  and  a 
quantity  of  salmon,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  privateer 
Dash,  of  that  place. 

English  privateer  Retaliation,  5  guns,  20  men,  cap 
tured  near  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  by  the  sloop  Two 
Friends,  fitted  out  for  the  occasion,  and  manned  by  vol 
unteers.  By  good  management  she  was  taken  by  com 
plete  surprise,  and  carried  by  boarding,  without  re 
sistance. 

Schooner  Two  Brothers,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by 
the  Mammoth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Uniza,  for  Merimachi,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 
Mammoth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Sarah,  from  Cork  for  Merimachi,  with  600  bbls. 
of  flour,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Sir  Home  Popham,  with  fruit,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Rapid,  from  Newfoundland  for  Lisbon,  with 
fish,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Ship  Champion,  from  London  for  Quebec,  captured 
by  the  same,  divested  of  her  cargo,  worth  from  $80,000 
to  $100,000,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  disembarrass  the 
privateer  of  her  prisoners. 

Two  other  small  vessels,  taken  by  the  same,  and  des 
troyed,  names  not  recorded. 

The  Mammoth  also  captured  and  ordered  into  port, 
the  bark  Mary,  brigs  Alexander  and  Charlotte,  and  the 
ship  Mentor,  with  valuable  cargoes,  and  gave  up  the 
schooners  Thomas  and  Good  Intent,  and  brigs  Joseph  and 
Eliza.  She  made  in  all  21  prizes,  and  paroled  about 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  307 

300  prisoners.  The  privateer  arrived  at  Portsmouth, 
N.  TL,  full  of  rich  spoils  from  the  enemy. 

The  valuable  brig  Europa,  armed  with  8  eighteen- 
pound  carronades,  2  long- nines,  and  22  men,  with  175 
tons  of  sweet  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the 
Patapsco,  of  Baltimore.  She  was  from  Malta  for  London, 
before  she  was  captured. 

Brig  Canada,  10  guns,  from  Bermuda,  laden  with 
300  puncheons  of  rum,  sentNinto  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  by 
the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore. 

The  English  brig  William  from  the  Coast  of  Africa, 
laden  with  194,087  pounds  of  gum.  estimated  to  be 
worth  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  dollars,  was  captured  and 
sent  into  Newbern,  N.  C.,  by  a  Baltimore  privateer, 
whose  name  is  not  given. 

Ship  Ann  Dorothy,  cargo  of  hides  and  tallow,  sent  into 
Boston  by  the  Saratoga  of  New  York.  A  valuable  prize. 
This  vessel  was  captured  by  the  Saratoga,  recaptured  by 
the  Maidstone  frigate,  re-captured  by  the  David  Por 
ter,  and  is  now  satisfactorily  accounted  for.  Her  cargo 
afforded  a  clear  profit  to  the  captors  of  from  $100,000 
to  $120,000.  A  very  clever  affair. 

The  Saratoga  privateer  returned,  after  a  cruise  of  110 
days,  during  which  she  captured  :  schr.  Mary,  brig  Swift- 
sure,  schr.  James,  ship  Ann  Dorothy,  and  ship  Enter- 
prize,  all  of  which  were  manned  and  ordered  for  the 
United  States.  The  privateer  also  brought  into  port  a 
quantity  of  indigo,  ivory,  and  furs — all  valuable  goods 
taken  from  the  enemy. 

The  privateer  Syren,  of  Baltimore,  returning  from  a 
cruise,  was  chased  off  New  York,  and  was  lost  on  mak 
ing  the  Delaware,  November  16th,  being  run  ashore  by 
the  pilot ;  where  she  was  attacked  by  three  barges,  from 
a  razee  at  anchor,  which  were  kept  at  bay  for  two  hours  ; 


308  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

but  finding  no  chance  of  escape,  the  privateer  was  set  on 
fire,  and  her  crew  (only  20  in  number,  with  6  prisoners 
in  charge),  reached  the  New  Jersey  shore  in  safety.  One 
of  the  enemy's  barges  is  said  to  have  sunk.  The  Syren 
captured  and  manned  several  valuable  vessels. 

Brig  Hiram,  from  Liverpool,  last  from  Cork,  with  a 
convoy  from  which  she  separated  in  a  gale,  bound  for  St. 
Johns,  with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  crockery,  cordage, 
etc.,  captured  by  the  David  Porter,  of  Boston,  divested 
of  goods  to  the  value  of  $100,000,  and  given  up. 

The  David  Porter  arrived  at  Boston,  with  her  rich 
spoils,  after  a  cruise  of  only  15  days,  during  which  she 
captured  the  Hyram  and  two  brigs,  which  she  ordered 
into  port. 

Brigs  Susan  and  James,  and  schooner  Retrieve,  cap 
tured  by  the  Fox  of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Concord,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  car 
tel  of,  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Cossack,  laden  with  wine,  sent  into  Boston,  by 
the  Surprise  of  Baltimore.  This  vessel  had  been  cap 
tured  by  the  Grand  Turk  of  Salem,  re-captured  by  the 
Bulwark  74,  and  re-taken  by  the  Surprise. 

Schooner  Pink,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and 
sunk. 

Brig  Brothers,  from  St.  Johns  for  Liverpool,  with  lum 
ber,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Belgrade  from  Malta,  for  Falmouth,  captured 
by  the  same,  divested  of  some  guns,  etc.  and  permitted 
to  proceed. 

Brig  Robert  Stewart,  with  lumber,  taken  by  the  same 
and  burnt. 

Schooner  Commerce,  laden  with  fish,  captured  and  de 
stroyed  by  the  same. 

The  Grand  Turk  arrived  at  Salem,  after  a  cruise  of 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  309 

103  days,  with  44  of  her  original  crew  (the  rest  being 
on  board  her  prizes),  and  fifty  prisoners. 

Beside  the  above,  she  captured  seven  or  eight  other 
vessels,  one  with  an  invoice  of  £30,000,  sterling,  all  of 
which  were  manned  and  ordered  for  United  States.  The 
Grand  Turk  had  on  board  goods  to  the  '  value  of 
$20,000. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Halifax,  with  mackerel,  captured 
by  the  Surprise  and  sunk. 

Schooner  Bird,  from  Newfoundland  for  the  West  In 
dies,  with  fish,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and  sent 
into  Salem. 

Ship  Ocean,  380  tons,  of  and  for  London,  laden  with 
a  cargo  of  masts,  35  bowsprits  for  men-of-war,  and  a 
quantity  of  timber  and  lumber,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
General  Putnam,  of  Salem.  This  privateer  was  subse 
quently  captured  by  the  English. 

Schooner  Georgiana,  from  Martinico,  for  Newfound 
land,  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into  port  by  the  Grand  Turk. 

Sloop  — ,  captured  by  the  Scorpion  of  Salem, 
mounting  one*  gun,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Schooner  -    — ,  taken  by  the  same  and  destroyed. 

Schooners  Eugene  and  Stinger,  captured  by  the 
Midas,  of  Baltimore,  divested  and  destroyed. 

Schooner  Betsey  and  Jane,  from  St.  Johns,  for 
Castine,  with  one  hundred  and  nineteen  packages  of  dry- 
goods,  valued  at  $150,000,  brought  into  Thomastown 
by  the  Cadet,  of  Salem. 

Brig  -  — ,  laden  with  fish,  sent  into  port  by  the 
letter-of-marque,  Jonquille,  of  N"ew  York. 

Sloop  -  — ,  from  St.  Lucia,  captured  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Schooner  -  — ^taken  by  the  same,  divested  and  given 
up  ;  being  of  little  value. 


310  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Schooner  Kingston,  packet,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
made  a  tender  of. 

Sloop  Cyrus,  captured  by  said  tender,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  Jane,  with  provisions,  captured  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Ship  Amelia,  four  long  guns,  and  eight  12  pound 
carronades,  with  a  rich  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by 
the  Saucy  Jack,  after  a  severe  engagement  of  an  hour. 
The  privateer  had  one  killed  and  one  wounded  ;  the 
Amelia,  four  killed  and  five  wounded. 

The  Saucy  Jack  also  captured  on  this  cruise  the 
British  schooner  Weasel,  laden  with  provisions,  and  sent 
her  into  St.  Mary's. 

Schooner  Jane,  from  Jamaica,  bound  for  St.  Johns, 
Newfoundland,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  was  also 
captured  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 
The  privateer  had  arrived  with  a  full  cargo  of  Brit 
ish  goods  valued  at  $15,000,  taken  out  of  her  prize — the 
Amelia. 

A  BOLD  DASH,  BUT  WITHOUT  SUCCESS. 

The  little  privateer  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston,  while 
cruising  off  Cape  Tiberon  (west  end  of  St.  Domingo), 
on  the  31st  of  October,  with  her  little  tender  called  the 
Packet  in  company,  at  1  A.  M.  saw  two  ships  standing 
to  the  westward,  gave  chase,  and  at  2  A.  M.,  being  within 
gun-shot,  fired  three  shots  at  them  from  our  long  gun, 
on  which  one  of  the  ships  returned  the  fire,  and  both  imme 
diately  shortened  sail.  At  6  A.  M.,  being  within  half 
gun-shot  of  them,  we  found  that  one  mounted  16  and  the 
other  18  guns,  but  did  not  appear  to  be  well  manned. 
At  7  A.  M.  hoisted  the  colors,  and  began  the  engagement 
with  the  nearest  ship  ;  at  ten  minutts  past  7  boarded 
her  on  the  larboard  beam,  and  then  found  her  to  be  full 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  311 

of  soldiers.  The  Saucy  Jack,  on  perceiving  this,  imme 
diately  sheered  off,  when  the  two  ships  continued  to 
chase  her  until  a  quarter  before  8  o'clock,  pouring  in  at 
the  time  a  constant  fire  of  grape  and  musketry  -  it  was 
8  o'clock  before  the  schooner  got  out  of  reach  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  In  this  engagement  the  Saucy  Jack  had 
eight  men  killed,  and  fifteen  wounded  ;  received  two 
balls  in  her  hull,  and  her  spars  and  rigging  were  very 
much  cut  up. 

ENGLISH  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  SAME  ACTION. 

"Kingston,  Jamaica,  Nov.  2d. — Yesterday  morning,  the 
Yolcano,  bomb-ship,  Captain  Price,  and  transport  ship 
Golden  Fleece,  from  the  Chesapeake,  having  on  board 
250  troops,  appeared  in  the  offing,  but  from  the  baffling 
winds  were  not  enabled  to  reach  Port  Royal,  at  the  time 
this  paper  was  put  to  press. 

"  On  Sunday  night,  about  12  o'clock,  off  Navassa  Island, 
the  Yolcano  perceived  a  schooner  standing  towards  her, 
which  fired  several  shot,  which  were  returned.  The 
Yolcano  shortened  sail,  in  order  that  the  schooner  might 
approach  her.  At  about  eight  o'clock  the  following 
morning,  she  was  ascertained  to  be  a  large  black  vessel, 
with  white  streaks  ;  she  ran  alongside,  and  attempted 
to  board,  but  finding  the  Yolcano  was  not  a  merchant 
man,  she  endeavored  to  sheer  off,  at  which  time  several 
volleys  of  musketry  and  great  guns  were  discharged  at 
her,  that  swept  her  deck,  and  killed  most  of  those  who 
endeavored  to  board,  when  the  remainder  were  seen  to 
run  below.  The  Yolcano  then  chased  her  for  three 
miles,  but  perceiving  no  probability  of  coming  up  with 
her,  relinquished  the  pursuit.  During  the  contest  a 
very  enterprising  officer  of  the  marine-artillery,  lieuten 
ant  W.  P.  Futzen,  and  two  seamen  were  killed,  and  two 


312  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [181/5. 

men  wounded.  The  privateer  had  in  company  a  Bala- 
hoo  schooner,  which  did  not  attempt  to  afford  her  any 
assistance  ;  she  mounted  six  carriage  guns,  and  one  on  a 
pivot,  and  was  full  of  men." 

PRIZES   CAPTURED  BY   PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Louisa,  laden  with  salt  and  tin,  captured  by  the 
Macedonian  of  Portsmouth,  divested  of  the  tin,  and 
burnt. 

English  brig  Britannia,  from  St.  Johns;  JST.  B.,  for 
Liverpool,  laden  with  195  tons  of  ship  timber,  and 
sundry  other  articles  was  captured  by  the  Macedonian, 
and  burnt. 

The  Macedonian  also  captured  the  British  ship  Sir 
Edward  Pellew,  burthen  307  tons,  2  guns,  and  19  men. 
She  was  in  ballast,  and  riot  worth  sending  into  port,  the 
privateer  destroyed  her. 

The  Macedonian  also  captured  three  other  British 
vessels  on  this  cruise,  two  of  them  she  manned  and  or 
dered  into  the  United  States.  The  other,  the  schooner 
Mariner,  laden  with  fish,  being  of  little  value,  was 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  pri 
soners. 

The  Macedonian  was  at  sea  only  twenty  days  ;  having 
carried  away  her  bowsprit  in  a  severe  gale  of  wind,  she 
was  obliged  to  return  home  to  Portsmouth  to  refit  ;  she 
however  made  several  prizes,  and  brought  into  port  22 
prisoners. 

The  British  schooner ,  laden  with  codfish,  was 

captured  by  the  Baltimore  privateer  Resolution,  and 
sent  into  Charleston,  S.  C. 

A  Schooner,  laden  with  salt,  name  not  reported,  was 
captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent 
into  Ocr acock,  N.  C. 


L815.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  313 

The  British  schooner  Hazard,  from  Halifax,  bound  for 
Annapolis,  Nova  Scotia,  laden  with  West  India  produce, 
and  a  quantity  of  English  goods  of  considerable  value, 
was  captured  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore,  and  after 
divesting  her  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo,  des 
troyed  her. 

A  SHORT  AND  VERY  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE,  MADE  BY  THE  PRIVATEER 
SCHOONER  KEMP,  OF  BALTIMORE,  UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF 
CAPTAIN  JACOBS. 

The  Kemp  sailed  from  Wilmington,  N".  C.,  on  a  cruise 
to  the  West  Indies,  November  29th,  1814. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  at  8  P.  M.,  two  days  after 
leaving  port,  while  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  she  descried  a 
small  fleet  of  merchant  ships,  and  made  sail  in  chase. 
At  12  meridian,  got  near  enough  to  ascertain  they  were 
eight  in  number,  and  under  convoy  of  a  frigate.  They 
were  then  in  lat.  32°  32'  N.,  long,  77°  0'  W. 

Soon  after  noon,  the  frigate  gave  chase  to  the 
schooner  and  drove  her  away  from  the  fleet.  Captain 
Jacobs  made  short  tacks  to  windward,  and  drew  the 
frigate  away  from  his  convoy,  in  pursuit  of  the 
Kemp. 

During  the  night,  the  privateer  dodged  the  frigate, 
and  saw  no  more  of  her. 

Early  next  morning,  she  steered  to  the  eastward,  in 
pursuit  of  the  fleet. 

She  soon  discovered  them  again,  bearing  N.N.E.  on 
the  weather  beam,  the  wind  being  north. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  at  1  i  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
the  Kemp  drew  near  the  fleet,  which  consisted  of  three 
ships,  three  brigs  and  two  schooners — all  drawn  up  in  a 
line  prepared  for  action. 

At   2  P.M.  they  bore   away  for   the  privateer,  and,  as 


314  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

they  respectively  passed,  commenced  firing  upon  her  in 
rotation.  She  reserved  her  fire,  and  tacked.  While 
passing  through  their  line,  she  opened  her  whole  arma 
ment  upon  the  enemy,  which  soon  threw  them  into  con 
fusion. 

At  half-past  2  p.  M.,  she  boarded  one  of  the  brigs  and 
captured  her  without  loss,  except  one  seaman  being 
wounded. 

•  The  whole  of  the  enemy's  vessels  continued  to  fire 
upon  the  Kemp  with  considerable  spirit,  which  was  as 
warmly  returned. 

At  3  P.M.,  fell  on  board  the  ship  Rosabella,  when  Mr. 
Myers,  first  lieutenant,  with  Mr.  Sellers,  sailing-master, 
and  eight  seamen,  succeeded  in  capturing  her,  without 
loss  on  the  part  of  the  privateer.  Three  men  were 
wounded  on  board  the  Rosabella.* 

When  in  the  act  of  boarding  one  of  the  schooners,  she 
struck,  and  cried  out  for  quarters. 

The  privateer  then  attacked  the  largest  of  the  brigs, 
and,  after  a  contest  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  she 
also  surrendered  ;  thus  augmenting  the  number  of  prizes 
to  four  out  of  the  eight  vessels  which,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  action  comprized  the  fleet. 

As  the  privateer  could  not  conveniently  spare  from 
her  crew  a  sufficient  number  to  man  any  more  prizes,  she 
was  obliged  to  let  the  residue  of  the  enemy's  vessels  pro 
ceed  on  their  voyage. 

On  this  cruise  the  Kemp  made  seventy-one  prisoners, 


*  The  ship  Rosabella,  prize  to  the  Kemp,  was  an  excellent  vessel,  of  261 
tons  burthen,  with  a  full  cargo  of  sugar  and  coffee.  She  was  ordered  to  pro 
ceed  to  Charleston,  but  unfortunately  on  entering  the  port,  she  grounded  on 
the  bar,  and  was  totally  lost.  This  vessel  and  her  cargo  were  estimated  at 
$300,000.  The  wreck  of  this  vessel  was  finally  burnt  by  a  British  man-of- 
war  brier. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  315 

fifty-three  of  whom  she  brought  into  port.  The  remain 
der  were  left  on  board  the  prizes. 

The  aggregate  force  of  the  enemy  was  46  guns  and 
134  men. 

The  Kemp  had  one  man  (John  Irwin)  killed.  Four 
who  were  wounded  soon  recovered. 

The  prizes  were  valuable  vessels,  laden  mostly  with 
sugar  and  coffee. 

They  were  all  sent  into  Charleston,  Wilmington,  and 
other  southern  ports. 

This  cruise  only  lasted  six  days,  but  was  a  very  profit 
able  one  for  the  captors,  and  all  others  concerned  in  the 
fortunate  schooner  Kemp  and  her  gallant  captain,  offi 
cers  and  crew. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Courtney,  200  tons,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  sent 
into  Fairhaven,  by  the  Yankee,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  The 
invoice  of  this  vessel  amounted  to  $200,000. 

Schooner  Polly,  from  Halifax,  for  Martinique,  with 
fish,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland. 

Schooner  Swift,  laden  with  fish  and  lumber,  from  St. 
Johns,  for  Granada,  captured  by  the  Expedition,  of 
Baltimore,  and  sent  into  -  — .  The  Expedition  had 
taken  three  other  prizes. 

Ship  L'Aimable,  from  Havana,  under  Spanish  colors, 
sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk  ; 
cargo,  sugar. 

Schooner ,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  sent  into  Beau 
fort,  by  the  Hero,  of  Newbern. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  St.  Johns,  for  Castine,  with  a 
rich  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  Cadet,  of  Sa 
lem  ;  divested,  manned,  and  arrived  in  port.  The  pri 
vateer  safely  arrived,  with  her  rich  spoils,  at  Thomas- 


316  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

town.  This  prize  was  under  convoy  of  an  armed 
schooner,  with  whom  the  privateer  Charles  Stewart  had 
a  fight,  but  seeing  the  Cumberland  privateer  coming  up, 
and  supposing  she  might  be  a  British  vessel,  the  Charles 
Stewart  sheered  off.  The  Cumberland  engaged  the 
Englishman,  and  was  beaten  off,  with  the  loss  of  one 
killed  and  one  wounded  ;  but  the  convoyed  schooner 
(the  Mary)  was  afterwards  taken,  and  served  as  above 
stated,  by  the  Cadet. 

AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS  IN  THE  EAST  INDIES. 

London,  November  26th. — The  East  India  Company's 
ship  Adele,  has  been  captured  by  an  American  priva 
teer  off  Pontana.  Other  privateers  were  cruising  off 
the  coast  of  Sumatra. 

We  learn  by  the  news  from  Batavia,  July  27th,  1815, 
that  an  embargo  was  laid  by  the  government,  to  prevent 
merchant  ships  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  American 
privateers,  who  had  captured  many  vessels  in  that  neigh 
borhood,  and  also  on  the  coast  of  Sumatra. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  Harpy  privateer  had  recently  arrived  at  Salem, 
after  a  very  successful  cruise.  She  reports  that  the 
United  States  ship  Wasp  was  off  the  Canaries,  doing 
a  great  business  among  the  English  merchant  ships. 

Schooner  St.  John,  with  coffee,  captured  by  the  letter- 
of-marque  Jonquil,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Jaquemel. 
where  she  was  ransomed. 

Schooner  -  — ,  captured  by  the  same,  divested,  and 
made  a  cartel  of. 

Brig  General  Maitland,  from  Martinique,  for  Ber 
muda,  with  rum  and  sugar,  captured  by  the  Dash,  di 
vested  of  part  of  her  cargo  and  ordered  into  port ;  ar 
rived  at  Portsmouth,  N".  H. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  31 T 

Sloop  Mary,  for  Bermuda,  with  a  variety  of  Brit 
ish  goods,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  Dash  safely  reached  Portland,  laden  with  various 
articles,  worth  from  $40,000  to  $50,000. 

Schooner  -  — ,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from  Halifax, 
forCastine,  taken  by  the  Fame,  of  Thomastown,  and  sent 
into  that  port. 

Sloop  Eliza,  captured  by  the  Caroline,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Mariner,  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  privateer  schooner  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  cap 
tured  the  British  brig  Stephen,  14  guns  and  30  men, 
from  St.  Thomas,  bound  for  Curacoa,  laden  with  fine 
English  goods.  After  taking  out  all  the  valuable  part 
of  the  cargo,  the  privateer  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners. 
The  Caroline  subsequently  arrived  safe  at  Wilmington, 
N".  C.,  with  a  full  cargo  of  valuable  British  goods. 

Sloop  Trinidad,  with  coffee,  hides  and  logwood, 
captured  by  the  letter-of-marque,  Jonquil,  divested  and 
burnt. 

The  Jonquil  arrived  at  Beaufort,  with  a  valuable  car 
go,  nine  days  from  Port-au-Prince. 

Brig  Equity,  from  Greenock,  for  Quebec,  laden  with 
an  assorted  cargo,  taken  by  the  Orlando,  of  Gloucester, 
and  sent  into  Boston. 

Brig  Lord  Wellington,  from  Halifax,  for  Havana,  cap 
tured  by  the  letter-of-marque  Diamond,  of  Baltimore, 
on  her  voyage  from  Havana  to  New  York.  The  Dia 
mond  gave  up  her  prize  to  the  crew  and  some  Spanish 
passengers,  and  let  her  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

Brig  Margaret,  from  Lisbon,  for  England,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  Lisbon  .  wine,  captured  off  the  British 
coast,  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent 
into  that  port, 


318  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [  1815. 

Ship  Hero,  of  610  tons,  14  guns  and  27  men,  from 
Halifax,  for  Jamaica,  laden  with  fish  and  lumber,  cap 
tured  by  the  Ino,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  that  port. 
The  Hero  struck  without  firing  a  gun. 

Schooner  Nancy,  from  Poole,  for  Newfoundland,  250 
tons,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  bale  goods,  provisions, 
etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  partially  divested  of  her  rich 
est  goods,  and  ordered  into  port. 

Ketch  Caroline,  under  Danish  colors,  from  London  to 
Lisbon,  taken  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  quantity  of  dry- 
goods,  as  British  property,  and  allowed  to  proceed  on 
her  voyage. 

Brig  Susannah,  from  St.  Andrews  for  Barbadoes, 
with  lumber,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  and  made  a  car 
tel  of. 

British  schooner  Mary,  formerly  the  Climax,  of  Bal 
timore,  16  guns  and  12  men,  captured  by  the  same,  af 
ter  a  long  chase,  and  sent  into  Philadelphia. 

British  brig  Pallas,  formerly  the  French  privateer 
Sans  Souci,  8  guns,  21  men,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  cap 
tured  by  the  same  privateer,  after  an  action  of  twenty 
minutes,  and  sent  into  Philadelphia. 

^The  privateer  Amelia  of  Baltimore,  arrived  safe  at 
Philadelphia,  in  April,  1815,  with  a  full  cargo  of  valu 
able  goods,  taken  from  the  enemy.  During  her  cruise 
she  captured  ten  British  vessels  ;  some  she  destroyed, 
some  she  ordered  into  port,  and  one  she  gave  up  as  a 
cartel  for  her  prisoners.  During  the  cruise  she  put  into 
L'Orient,  where  her  captain  and  officers  were  well  re 
ceived,  and  treated  politely  by  the  public  authorities  of 
that  place.  On  her  return  home  she  touched  at  St. 
Barts,  for  a  supply  of  water.  The  governor  would  not 
allow  her  any  supplies,  but,  on  the  contrary,  ordered 
her  captain  to  leave  the  Island  forthwith.  The  Amelia 


1815.]  THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  319 

carried  but  6  guns,  and  seventy  five  men.  The  captur 
ed  vessels  amounted  to  2,270  tons,  112  prisoners,  and 
32  carriage  guns.  She  was  frequently  chased  by  the 
enemy,  and  once  for  fifty-three  hours,  but  was  fortunate 
enough  to  evade  all  her  pursuers,  and  finally  made  an 
excellent  cruise. 

The  East  India  ship  General  Wellesley,  16  guns,  .86 
men,  500  tons,  coppered,  and  found  in  the  best  manner, 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  18,000  bars  of  iron,  etc.,  etc., 
outward  bound,  namely,  for  Calcutta,  separated  from  her 
convoy,  and  was  captured  by  the  privateer  Yankee, 
after  a  running  fight.  She  was  manned  and  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Charleston,  but  unfortunately,  while  entering 
that  port,  she  was  lost  on  the  bar.  Her  original,  crew 
consisted  of  36  Englishmen,  50  Lascars,  all  of  whom 
were  drowned,  but  seven.  Two  of  the  prize  crew  were 
also  lost ;  the  Yankee  was  left  in  pursuit  of  a  fleet  of 
twenty  sail.  This  valuable  ship  being  wrecked  on 
the  bar,  was  doubtless  a  great  disappointment  to  her 
captors. 

British  brig  -  —,170  tons,  a  valuable  vessel,  from 
Castine  for  Jamaica,  laden  with  fish  and  lumber,  brought 
into  -  — ,  by  the  Paul  Jones, 

Cutter  Eliza  and  Peggy,  from  Malaga  for  London, 
with  fruit,  captured  by  the  Lawrence  of  Baltimore,  di 
vested  of  part  of  her  cargo,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get 
rid  of  prisoners. 

Cutter  Dart,  with  a  cargo  of  wine,  raisins,  etc.,  from 
Malaga,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  portion  of 
her  cargo,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Christian,  from  Faro  for  London,  with  a  full 
cargo,  taken  by  the  same  privateer,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Atalanta,  from  Halifax  for  Martinique,  with 
fish,  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 


320  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

The  privateer  Lawrence,  arrived  at  New  York  on  the 
25th  of  January.  During  her  cruise,  she  took  13  prizes, 
eight  of  which  were  manned  ;  some  of  them  very  valuable. 
One  vessel  she  gave  up  to  the  prisoners  as  a  cartel.  She 
made  106  prisoners,  but  brought  in  only  15.  Her  prizes 
in  the  aggregate  amounted  to  more  than  3.000  tons. 
She  also  brought  in  a  quantity  of  English  goods. 

British  brig  Lord  Wellington,  with  fish  and  lum 
ber,  captured  by  the  Expedition,  of  Baltimore,  and 
burnt. 

English  >chooner  Goldfinder  (formerly  belonged  to 
New  York),  with  salt,  captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  sent  into  Elizabeth  City,  N.  0. 

A  transport,  with  250  troops,  from  Halifax  for  Cas- 
tine,  chased  ashore  near  the  latter  place  by  three  priva 
teers,  and  lost.  The  troops,  however,  got  safely  to  land, 
and  marched  to  Castine. 

Sloop  Governor  Hodgdon,  with  a  few  cases  of  English 
goods  and  hats,  some  cordage,  white  lead,  etc.,  captured 
by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  divested,  and  given  up  to  the 
prisoners. 

Brig  Only  Son,  from  Barbadoes  for  St.  Johns,  with 
rum,  sugar  and  shrub,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
given  up. 

English  brig—  — ,  laden  with  provisions  for  the  English 
army,  captured  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  where 
she  had  grounded.  She  was  then  captured  by  a  priva 
teer  and  burnt. 

Ship  Jane,  from  Merimachi,  laden  with  lumber,  cap 
tured  and  burnt  by  the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  William  JSTeilson,  of  Liverpool,  from  Quebec, 
with  a  number  of  passengers,  and  a  cargo  of  lumber, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  disem 
barrass  her  of  her  prisoners; 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  321 

English  schooner  Nine  Sisters,  from  Lisbon  for  Liver 
pool,  with  a  cargo  of  fruit,  captured  by  the  same  and 
burnt. 

British  brig  Louisa,  from  Gibraltar  for  G-reenock,  with 
a  cargo  of  wine,  figs,  raisins,  etc.,  was  also  captured  by 
the  Harpy,  divested  of  part  of  her  goods,  and  manned 
for  the  United  States. 


LOSS  OF  THE   PRIVATEER-BRIG  ARROW,  CAPTAIN  CONKLIN,  OF 

NEW  YORK. 

It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  herewith  record  the 
total  loss  of  the  beautiful  privateer-brig  Arrow.  She 
sailed  from  New  York  the  14th  January,  1815,  on  a 
cruise  to  the  West  Indies.  She  mounted  14  guns,  and 
had  a  complement  of  150  men.  She  was  well  equipped 
and  supplied  with  everything  necessary  for  a  long  cruise, 
but,  sad  to  relate,  no  tidings  were  ever  received  from 
this  vessel  after  she  left  port.  She  being  heavily 
sparred,  it  was  conjectured  that  she  was  capsized  at 
sea,  or  run  under  while  chased  by  an  enemy. 

SUCCESS  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HARPY. 

English  ship  William  and  Alfred,  from  London,  for 
Antigua,  with  dry-goods  and  plantation  utensils,  was 
captured  by  the  Harpy,  divested  of  her  dry-goods, 
manned,  and  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Ship  Jane,  from  London,  for  Antigua,  laden  with  pro 
visions  for  government  account,  captured  by  the  same. 
After  taking  out  a  portion  of  her  cargo,  and  destroying 
the  remainder,  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners  to  proceed 
to  a  British  port  as  a  cartel. 

The  Harpy  also  captured  the  valuable  ship  Garland, 
with  a  full  cargo  of  rum  and  sugar,  which  ship  arrived 
at  Salem. 

21 


322  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

The  Harpy  arrived  at  Salem  in  April,  1815.  She  had 
on  board  a  valuable  cargo  of  rich  merchandize  of  every 
description,  taken  from  several  of  her  prizes,  made  while 
cruising  on  the  coast  of  England,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay, 
and  along  the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  Here  fol 
lows  a  memorandum  of  the  goods,  namely,  118  boxes 
and  trunks,  and  116  hhds.  and  casks  of  dry-goods,  jew 
elry,  plate,  ladies'  rich  dresses,  navy  trimmings,  rich 
clothing,  etc.,  330  boxes  fresh  Malaga  raisins,  66  frails 
fresh  Turkey  figs,  158  pieces  British  manufactured  goods, 
29  bolts  of  canvas,  a  quantity  of  cordage,  10  pipes  of 
sherry  wine,  3  bbls.  of  powder,  carronades,  muskets, 
pistols,  cutlasses,  sails,  signal  flags,  lamp  and  paint  oil, 
white  and  patent  sheet  lead,  nautical  instruments,  cut 
and  other  glass,  medicines,  and  sundry  other  articles  ; 
also,  upward  of  £100,000,  sterling,  in  British  Treasury 
notes  and  bills  of  exchange. 

She  was  frequently  chased,  but  escaped  with  ease. 
She  was  at  sea  85  days,  and  cruised  off  the  coast  of  Ire 
land,  in  the  British  Channel,  Bay  of  Biscay,  etc.  She 
was  a  noble  vessel  of  349  tons,  carrying  14  heavy  guns, 
and  about  100  men.  The  following  honorable  acknow 
ledgments  of  the  kind  treatment  of  Capt.  Nichols,  of  the 
Harpy,  to  his  prisoners,  deserves  record  : 

"  Capt.  William  Drysdale,  late  of  the  ship  William 
and  Alfred,  captured  the  2d  January,  1815,  by  the  brig 
Harpy,  returns  his  grateful  acknowledgment  to  William 
Nichols,  Esq.,  commander  of  the  said  brig,  and  all  his 
officers,  for  their  great  civility,  indulgent  lenity,  and  hu 
mane  usage,  while  on  board,  and  generously  delivering 
up  all  his  private  property.  And  should,  at  any  future 
time,  Captain  Nichols  or  any  of  his  officers  come  to  Lon 
don,  Captain  D.  will  be  happy  to  see  them  at  his  house, 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS,  323 

Stepney  Green,  near  London.  Given  under  my  hand, 
on  board  the  Harpy,  at  sea,  this  day,  6th* of  January, 
1815. 

11  WILLIAM  DRYSDALE, 

Late  Captain  of  the  Ship  William  and  Alfred." 

"We,  the  undersigned,  feeling  congenial  sentiments 
with  Captain  Drysdale,  toward  Captain  Nichols,  Lieu 
tenant  Place  and  the  officers  on  board  the  Harpy  ;  and 
desirous  that  such  humanity  and  goodness  may  be  made 
public,  as  well  in  the  United  States  as  in  England,  declare 
that  oitr  treatment  is  worthy  of  every  praise  and  enco 
mium  ;  and  that  all  our  private  property  has  been  held 
sacred  to  us,  and  a  cartel  fitted  for  us  as  early  as  cir 
cumstances  would  permit. 

"  GEO.  HARRISON, 

"W.  NEWELL, 

"J.  W.  HALL 

"  ANDREW  MCCARTHY. 

Late  Masters  of  Vessels  taken  by  the  Harpy." 
PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS, 

Brig  Courtney,  from  London,  for  Rio  Janeiro,  with 
dry-goods,  copper,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Yankee, 
divested  of  her  richest  articles  and  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

Ship  St.  Andrew,  8  guns,  from  London  for  Teneriffe, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  the  United  States. 

Brig  Speculator,  captured  by  the  Yankee,  and  made 
a  cartel  of.  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Patriot,  from  Prince  Edward's  Island,  with 
timber,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Brutus  of  Boston. 

Brig  Dantzic,  sent  into  an  eastern  port,  by  the  Paul 
Jones,  of  New  York. 


324  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1S15. 

Brig  Peter,  from  Messina,  for  London,  a  very  valuable 
vessel,  sent  into  North  Carolina  by  the  Lawrence,  of 
Baltimore  ;  she  had  a  full  cargo  of  valuable  mer 
chandise. 

Brig  John,  from  Liverpool  for  Leghorn,  with  a  cargo 
of  dry-goods  and  hardware,  captured  by  the  Perry  of 
Baltimore,  divested  of  many  valuable  articles  ;  manned, 
and  ordered  into  any  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Malaga,  for  London,  with  fruit, 
captured  by  the  same  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  Perry  arrived  in  the  Delaware  about  the  1st  of 
Feb.,  with  a  full  cargo  of  chosen  spoils,  after  having  made 
a  capital  cruise.  She  was  chased  some  eight  or  ten  times 
by  brigs,  sloops-of-war,  frigates,  and  razees,  but  laughed 
at  them  all ;  except  once,  when  close  in  on  the  coast,  she 
had  to  receive  the  fire  of  a  razee,  from  which  she  escap 
ed,  though  much  cut  up  in  her  hull  and  sails.  She  was 
so  close  that  the  shot  from  the  ship  frequently  reached 
her,  but  though  so  hardly  pressed,  she  finally  escaped. 

The  three  masted  schooner  -  — ,  captured  by  the 
Warrior,  of  New  York,  was  subsequently  lost  on  New 
Inlet  bar,  North  Carolina. 

British  ship  William,  captured  by  the  Charles  Stewart, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Bath,  cargo  of  lumber. 

British  brig  -  — ,  captured  by  the  Harrison,  of  Balti 
more,  divested  of  a  quantity  of  English  goods  and  ran 
somed  . 

Schooner  -  — ,  under  Spanish  colors,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  divested  of  a  quantity  of  goods,  belonging  to 
British  merchants  in  Jamaica,  and  given  up. 

The  captain  of  the  Harrison  was  afterwards  killed  in  a 
battle  with  a  British  sloop-of-war. 

The  privateer  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N  C.,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  goods  taken  from  the  enemy. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  325 

The  York,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  Boston  in  April, 
1815,  after  a  very  unsuccessful  cruise,  having  captured 
only  one  vessel,  which  was  immediately  retaken.  SJie 
suffered  exceedingly  by  gales  of  wind  ;  in  one  of  which 
she  lost  overboard  four  seamen,  with  several  guns,  an 
chors,  etc.,  etc. 

Ship  Mary,  246  tons,  6  guns,  from  Newfoundland,  for 
Lisbon,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by  the  Little  George, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Marblehead.  The  Mary  was  a 
very  fine  vessel. 

English  brig  —  — ,  with  liquor  and  dry-goods,  sent  into 
Ocracock,  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Enterprise,  from  Guernsey,  for  Madeira,  with 
dry- goods  and  flour,  captured  by  the  Whig  of  Balti 
more,  divested  of  her  cargo,  and  given  up  to  the  pri 
soners. 

Brigs  Brunswick  and  Race  Horse,  and  schooner 
Britannia,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

British  schooner  Lucy  Ann,  captured  by  the  Surprise, 
and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Forth,  from  Halifax,  for  Pictou,  in  ballast,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Two  vessels  laden  with  fish,  oil  and  coal,  captured  bv 
the  Ranger,  and  burnt. 

English  ship  -  — ,  a  collier,  captured  off  the  coast  of 
England  by  the  Ranger,  of  Boston,  and  burnt. 

English  brig  Athill,  8  guns,  from  the  Mediterranean, 
bound  to  England,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  was  captured 
by  the  Lawrence  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  Brest, 
France. 

I  find  it  stated,  that  on  the  24th  of  December,  1814, 
the  Baltimore  privateer  Surprise  was  at  Brest,  and  there 
fired  a  salute,  which  was  answered  by  the  French  ad 
miral  with  11  guns. 


326  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1815,  the  Surprise  sailed  from 
that  port,  bound  on  a  cruise. 

Five  days  after  leaving  port,  viz.,  on  the  14th  of  Jan 
uary,  the  privateer  was  chased  for  several  hours  by  a 
British  ship-of-war,  who  fired  fifty  guns  at  her,  but 
without  effect.  She  was  fortunate  enough  to  make 
her  escape  during  the  night,  and  proceeded  on  her 
cruise. 


BATTLE    BETWEEN  THE  SURPRISE  AND  THE  BRITISH   SHIP  STAR— 
CAPTURE  OF  THE  STAR. 

While  cruising  in  lat.  24°  10'  North,  long.  35°  50' 
West,  on  the  28th  of  January,  the  Surprise,  at  11 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  saw  a  sail  on  her  lee  quar 
ter.  The  wind  being  light,  the  privateer  manned  her 
sweeps  and  kept  away  for  the  strange  sail. 

At  half-past  12  meridian,  being  within  gun-shot,  the 
stranger  set  English  colors.  The  privateer  hoisted 
American  colors,  when  the  action  commenced  on  both 
sides,  and  was  kept  up  with  spirit  arid  energy  by  the 
contending  parties  until  a  quarter-past  2  o'clock.  At 
that  time,  the  privateer,  with  the  aid  of  her  sweeps, 
managed  to  gain  a  raking  position  under  the  stern  of  the 
enemy,  who  then  struck  his  colors. 

She  proved  to  be  the  English  ship  Star,  mounting  8 
twelve-pounders,  with  26  men,  from  Batavia,  bound  for 
London,  laden  with  coffee  and  other  valuable  East  India 
produce. 

The  Star  had  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded.  She 
received  several  shots  in  her  hull,  and  was  considerably 
damaged  in  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Surprise  did  not  lose  a  man,  nor  have  one 
wounded.  She  received  several  shots  through  her  sails, 


1815.]  •  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  327 

and  had  her  fore-mast  and  fore-top-mast  wounded  by 
round  shot. 

The  privateer  removed  from  the  Star  a  considerable 
portion  of  her  cargo,  and  then  put  a  prize-master 
and  mate,  with  eighteen  seamen  on  board,  and  pro 
ceeded  in  company  with  her  towards  New  York. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  while  drawing  near  the 
coast,  the  Surprise  separated  from  her  prize  in  a  snow 
storm.  They  both  subsequently  arrived  safe  at  New 
York  with  the  whole  of  this  valuable  cargo. 

The  portion  brought  in  by  Uie  privateer  was  valued 
at  $150,000. 

The  entire  cargo  of  the  Star  was  estimated  at 
$300,000. 

It  consisted  of  the  following  articles  :  1,180  bags  of 
sugar,  5,021  bags  of  coffee,  45  tubs  of  camphor,  297 
bags  of  sago,  224  cwt.  of  sapan-wood,  22  bales  of  nan 
keens,  83  cases  of  cinnamon,  and  45  cases  of  tortoise- 
shell. 

The  English  three-masted  schooner  George,  from 
Rio  Grande,  Africa,  to  Goree,  with  timber,  captured 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of 
prisoners. 

British  brig  -  — ,  with  fish  and  oil,  sent  into  Ports 
mouth,  by  the  Champlain,  privateer. 

Brig  Susanna,  of  Liverpool,  200  tons  burthen,  cop 
pered,  with  a  full  cargo,  captured  on  her  voyage  from 
Havana,  for  England,  by  the  Sine-qua-non  privateer,  of 
Boston,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  1ST.  H.  The  Susanna 
was  under  Spanish  colors,  and  was  called  the  Antonia, 
but  her  true  name  and  character  were  afterward  dis 
covered  ;  and  both  vessel  and  cargo  proved  to  be 
English. 

Brig  Flying  Fish,  240  tons,    coppered,  with  a   rich 


328  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

cargo,  captured  on  her  voyage  from  London  to  Trieste, 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  sent  into  New  Bedford  ; 
cargo  valued  at  from  $150,000  to  $200,000.  The  Fly 
ing  Fish  was  a  brig  110  feet  on  deck,  and  in  every  way 
a  fine  vessel. 

The  English  packet  brig  Lady  Mary  Pelham,  mount 
ing  10  guns  and  25  men,  was  captured  by  the  Kemp, 
of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C.  The 
packet  opposed  the  privateer  with  a  manly  spirit,  until 
she  had  one  man  killed,  and  eight  wounded,  when  she 
surrendered  to  the  Kemp,  which  vessel  had  one  man 
killed  and  three  wounded. 


SUBSTANCE  OF  AN  AMUSING  CHASE  BY  AN  ENGLISH  FRIGATE 
AND  THE  PRIVATEER  WARRIOR,  CAPTAIN  CHAMPLIN,  OF  NEW 
YORK. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  Captain  Champlin  made  the 
island  of  Fayal,  and  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  while 
about  entering  the  harbor,  he  saw  an  English  frigate 
lying  there  at  anchor. 

As  soon  as  the  frigate  discovered  the  privateer,  she 
slipped  her  cable  and  made  sail  in  pursuit  of  her.  The 
Warrior,  of  course,  carried  all  the  sail  she  could  bear,  to 
avoid  the  enemy,  and  after  a  chase  of  some  forty  or  fifty 
miles,  with  a  strong  breeze  and  squally  weather,  the 
frigate  approached  within  Iong-gun-sho1>of  the  privateer, 
and  commenced  firing  upon  her  from  her  two  bow 
guns. 

At  this  moment,  Captain  Champlin  brought  his  long- 
torn  to  bear,  and  luffed-to  a  little,  to  show  his  star 
board  battery,  which  indicated  a  disposition  to  fight 
(as  the  enemy  supposed),  which  induced  the  frigate 
to  shorten  sail,  and  give  battle  in  due  form. 
Under  these  favorable  circumstances,  Captain  Champlin 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  329 

threw  overboard   all  .his  lee  guns  with  shot   and  other 
heavy  articles. 

After  having  lightened  his  vessel,  he  made  sail  and 
dodged  the  enemy  during  the  night,  and  thus  made  his 
escape. 

TRUE    MAGNANIMITY. 

The  following  statement  was  extracted  from  a  Lon 
don  paper,  called  the  Aurora,  dated  December  1st, 
1814  : 

"  MR.  EDITOR  :  You  will  please  a  great  number  of  your 
readers  in  Great  Britain,  who  are  zealous  in  spreading 
the  Divine  Gospel  all  over  the  earth,  by  showing  them 
that  there  are  some  American  citizens  who  are  willing 
to  unite  with  us  in  sending  Missionaries  to  all  parts  of 
the  globe. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Benson  read  the  following  note,  which 
was  transmitted  to  him  by  one  of  his  brethren  in 
Wales  : 

A  few  weeks  since,  a  trading  vessel,  laden  with  corn, 
from  Cardigan,  in  Wales,  was  taken  in  the  channel  by 
an  American  privateer.  When  the  captain  of  the  latter 
entered  the  cabin  to  survey  his  prize,  he  espied  a  small 
box  with  a  hole  in  the  top,  similar  to  that  which  trades 
men  have  in  their  counters,  through  which  they  drop 
their  money,  on  which  the  words  "Missionary  box" 
were  inscribed.  On  seeing  this,  the  American  captain 
seemed  not  a  little  astonished,  and  addressed  the  Welsh 
captain  nearly  as  follows:  "Captain,  what  is  this?" 
pointing  to  the  box  with  his  stick.  "  Oh  !"  replied  the 
honest  Cambrian,  heaving  a  sigh,  "  'tis  all  over  now!" 
"  What?"  said  the  American  captain.  "  Why,  the  truth 
is,"  said  the  Welshman,  "  that  I,  and  my  poor  fellows, 
have  been  accustomed,  every  Monday  morning,  to  drop 
a  penny  each  into  that  box,  for  the  purpose  of  sending 


330  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

out  Missionaries  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  ; 
but  it  is  all  over  now."  "  Indeed !"  answered  the 
American  captain,  "  that  is  very  good."  After  pausing 
a  few  minutes,  he  said  :  "  Captain,  I'll  not  hurt  a  hair 
of  your  head,  nor  touch  your  vessel,"  and  immediately 
departed,  leaving  the  owner  to  pursue  his  course  to  his 
destined  port." 


CHAPTER    X. 


DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  TUB  UNITED  STATES  SHIP  HORNET,  CAPTAIN  EIDDLE,  AND 
THE  BRITISH  SLOOP-OP-WAR  PENGUIN — REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE — CAPTURE  OF  THE 
BRIG  LADY  TROWBRIDGE  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  INO,  OP  BOSTON — LOSS  OF  THE  INO  OFF 
CHARLESTON  BAR — CAPTURE  OF  THE  SHIP  MARY  AND  SUSAN,  BY  THE  CHASSEUR — CAP 
TURE  OF  THE  SHIP  ADVENTURE  BY  THE  SAME  VESSEL — SENT  INTO  CHARLESTON — EXTRACT 
FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  MC.  DONOUGH — INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE 
PRIVATEER  YOUNG  WASP — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ARABELLA.  OF  CALCUTTA, 
BY  THE  SHIP  RAMBLER  OF  BOSTON — CAPTURE  OF  THE  PACKET-SHIP  ELIZABETH, 
AFTER  A  SHORT  BATTLE,  BY  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  JACOB  JONES,  OF  BOSTON — CAP 
TURE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HYDER-ALI,  IN  THE  EAST  INDIES,  BY  THE  BRITISH  FRIGATE 
OWEN  GLENDOWER — CAPTAIN  BOYLE'S  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL,  IN  THE 
PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR — A  LIST  OF  PRIZES  MADE  BY  CAPTAIN  BOYLE — CAPTAIN 
BOYLE'S  BURLESQUE  BLOCKADE — CAPTURE  OF  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  ST. 

LAWRENCE,  BY  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  IN  THE  CHASSEUR — ARRIVAL  OF  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  AT 
BALTIMORE  IN  THE  PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  IN  THE  WEST 
INDIES— THE  AUTHOR'S  ADMIRATION  OF  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  AND  HIS  GALLANT  EX 
PLOITS. 


REMAKES  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  SHIP 
HORNET,  J.  BIDDLE,  COMMANDER,  AND  THE  BRITISH  SLOOP-OF-WAR 
PENGUIN,  CAPTAIN  DICKENSON,  ON  THE  25TH  OF  MARCH,  1815, 
NEAR  THE  ISLAND  OF  TRISTAN  D'ACUNHA. 

I  have  selected  this  action  from  among  many  others, 
because  I  believed  the  two  vessels  as  nearly  equal,  both 
in  men  and  guns,  as  could  possibly  be  chosen  from  the 
navies  of  their  respective  countries.  Consequently,  I 
think  this  action  a  very  fair  test  between  Young  America 
and  Old  England,  in  point  of  seamanship,  skill,  and 
bravery.  I  consider  this  one  of  the  fairest  and  best 
fought  battles,  on  both  sides,  that  occurred  during  the 
war. 

In  some  of  the  other  naval  battles  fought  between 
single  American  and  British  ships,  it  so  happened  that 
the  force  of  the  American  vessels  was  slightly  superior 

(331) 


332  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1835. 

in  men  and  guns  to  the  English  ;  but  in  this  instance,  I 
trust,  the  English  will  not  raise  that  objection,  but  on 
the  contrary,  acknowledge  it  without  a  cavil,  to  have 
been  a  fair-fought  action,  and  a  decided  victory  in  favor 
of  the  American  ship. 

These  two  sloops-of-war  had,  previous  to  their  meet 
ing,  been  wishing  and  seeking  for  an  opportunity  to  dis 
tinguish  themselves  by  gaining  a  decisive  battle  over  the 
enemies  of  their  respective  countries,  in  an  honorable 
combat  on  the  broad  ocean. 

When  the  Penguin  hove  in  sight,  and  the  two  bel 
ligerent  parties  understood  the  character  of  each  other, 
their  hearts  beat  high  with  hope  for  a  glorious  vic 
tory. 

The  Penguin  bore  up,  and  ran  off  a  little,  to  get  clear  of 
the  land.  At  the  same  time,  the  Hornet,  being  a  little  to 
leeward,  backed  her  main-top-sail,  and  waited  for  her 
opponent  to  come  down,  that  they  might  commence  the 
action. 

As  the  two  ships  neared  each  other,  the  Penguin 
hoisted  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun,  which  said, 
as  plain  as  a  gun  could  speak,  I  am  ready  for  the 
light. 

rapt.  Biddle  set  his  colors,  and  here  follows  his  official 
account  of  the  action  : 

Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy  . 

SIR, — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d  instant,  at  half-past  ten  o'clock  when 
about  to  anchor  off  the  north  end  of  the  Island  of  Tris 
tan  d'Acunha,  a  sail  was  seen  to  the  southward  and 
eastward,  steering  to  the  westward,  the  wind  fresh 
from  the  S.S.W.  In  a  few  minutes  she  had  passed 
on  to  the  westward,  so  that  we  could  not  see  her 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  338 

for  the  land.  I  immediately  made  sail  for  the  west 
ward,  and  shortly  after  getting  in  sight  of  her 
again,  perceived  her  to  bear  up  before  the  wind.  I 
hove-to  for  him  to  come  down  to  us.  When  she  had 
approached  near,  I  filled  the  main-top-sail,  and  continued 
to  yaw  the  ship,  while  she  continued  to  come  down, 
wearing  occasionally  to  prevent  her  passing  under  our 
stern.  At  forty  minutes  past  one  P.  M.,  being  nearly 
within  musket-shot  distance,  she  hauled  her  wind  on  the 
starboard  tack,  hoisted  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun. 
We  immediately  luffed-to,  hoisted  our  ensign,  and  gave 
the  enemy  a  broadside.  The  action  being  thus  com 
menced  a  quick  and  well-directed  fire  was  kept  up  from 
this  ship,  the  enemy  gradually  drifting  nearer  to  us, 
when  at  five  minutes  to  2  o'clock  he  bore  up  apparently 
to  run  us  on  board.  As  soon  as  I  perceived  he 
would  certainly  fall  on  board,  I  called  the  boarders, 
so  as  to  be  ready  to  repel  the  attempt.  At  the  in 
stant  every  officer  and  man  repaired  to  the  quarter 
deck,  where  the  two  vessels  were  coming  in  contact,  and 
eagerly  pressed  me  to  permit  them  to  board  the  enemy  ; 
but  this  I  would  not  permit,  as  it  was  evident,  from  the 
commencement  of  the  action,  that  our  fire  was  greatly 
superior  both  in  quickness  and  in  effect.  The  enemy's 
bowsprit  came  in  between  our  main  and  mizzen  rigging, 
on  our  starboard  side ,  affording  him  an  opportunity  to 
board  us,  if  such  was  his  design,  but  no  attempt  was 
made.  There  was  a  considerable  swell  on,  and  as  the 
sea  lifted  us  ahead,  the  enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away 
our  mizen-shrouds,  stern  davits  and  spanker-boom,  and 
he  hung  upon  our  larboard  quarter.  At  this  moment 
an  officer,  who  was  afterwards  recognized  to  be  Mr. 
McDonald,  the  first  lieutenant,  and  the  then  com 
manding  officer,  called  out  that  they  had  surrendered. 


334  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

I  directed  the  marines  and  musketry-men  to  cease  firing, 
and  while  on  the  taffrail  asking  if  they  had  surrendered, 
I  received  a  wound  in  the  neck.  The  enemy  just  then 
got  clear  of  us,  and  his  fore-mast  and  bowsprit  being 
both  gone,  and  perceiving  us  wearing  to  give  him  a  fresh 
broadside,  he  again  called  out  that  he  had  surrendered. 
It  was  with  difficulty  I  could  restrain  my  crew  from 
firing  into  him  again,  as  he  had  certainly  fired  into  us 
after  having  surrendered.  From  the  firing  of  the  first 
gun,  to  the  last  time  the  enemy  cried  out  he  had  sur 
rendered,  was  exactly  twenty-two  minutes  by  the  watch. 
She  proved  to  be  his  Britannic  Majesty's  brig  Pen 
guin,  mounting  16  thirty-two-pound  carronades,  two 
long-twelves,  a  twelve-pound  carronade  on  the  top-gal 
lant  forecastle,  with  swivels  on  the  capstan  and  in  the 
tops.  She  had  a  spare  port  forward,  so  as  to  fight  both 
her  long  guns  of  a  side.  She  sailed  from  England  in 
September.  She  was  shorter  upon  deck  than  this 
ship,  by  two  feet,  but  she  had  a  greater  length  of  keel, 
greater  breadth  of  beam,  thicker  sides,  and  higher  bul 
warks  than  this  ship,  and  was  in  all  respects  a  remark 
ably  fine  vessel  of  her  class.  The  enemy  acknowledged  a 
complement  of  132  men,  12  of  them  supernumerary  ma 
rines,  from  the  Medway  "  74, "  received  on  board  in  con 
sequence  of  their  being  ordered  to  cruise  for  the  Ameri 
can  privateer  Young  Wasp.  They  acknowledge  also  a  loss 
of  14  killed,  and  28  wounded  ;  but  Mr.  Mayo,  who  was 
in  charge  of  the  prize,  assures  me  that  the  number  of 
killed  was  certainly  greater.  Among  the  killed  is  Capt. 
Dickenson,  who  fell  at  the  close  of  the  action,  and  the 
boatswain  ;  among  the  wounded  are  the  second  lieutenant, 
purser,  and  two  midshipmen.  Each  of  the  midshipmen 
lost  a  leg.  We  received  on  board  in  all,  118  prisoners, 
four  of  whom  have  since  died  of  their  wounds.  Having 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  335 

removed  the  prisoners,  and  taken  on  board  such  provi 
sions  and  stores  as  would  be  useful  to  us,  I  scuttled  the 
Penguin  this  morning,  before  daylight,  and  she  went 
down.  As  she  was  completely  riddled  by  our  shot,  her 
foremast  and  bowsprit  both  gone,  and  her  mainmast  so 
crippled  as  to  be  incapable  of  being  secured,  it  seemed 
unadvisable,  at  this  distance  from  home,  to  attempt  send 
ing  her  to  the  United  States. 

This  ship  did  not  receive  a  single  round  shot  in  her 
hull,  nor  any  material  wound  in  her  spars  ;  the  rigging 
and  sails  were  very  much  cut,  but  having  bent  a  new 
suit  of  sails,  and  knotted  and  secured  our  rigging,  we 
are  now  completely  ready  in  all  respects,  for  any  service. 
We  were  eight  men  short  of  complement,  and  had  nine 
upon  the  sick  list  the  morning  of  the  action. 

Enclosed  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  I  lament 
to  state  that  Lieutenant  Conner  is  dangerously  wounded. 
I  feel  great  solicitude  on  his  account,  as  he  is  an  officer 
of  so  much  promise,  and  his  loss  would  be  a  serious  loss 
to  the  service. 

It  is  a  most  pleasing  part  of  my  duty  to  acquaint  yout 
that  the  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Conner  and  Newton,  Mr. 
Mayo,  acting  Lieutenant  Brownlow  of  the  Marines,  Sail 
ing-master  Romney,  and  the  other  officers,  seamen,  and 
marines  I  have  the  honor  to  command,  was  in  the  high 
est  degree  creditable  to  them,  and  calls  for  my  warmest 
recommendation.  I  cannot,  indeed,  do  justice  to  their 
merits.  The  satisfaction  which  was  diffused  throughout 
the  ship  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  stranger  was 
an  enemy's  sloop-of-war,  and  the  alacrity  with  which 
every  one  repaired  to  quarters,  fully  assured  me  that 
their  conduct  in  the  action  would  be  marked  \\  ith  cool 
ness  and  intrepidity. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

J.  BIDDLE. 


336  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Hornet,  was  1  killed  and  11 
wounded. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  ACTION,  CONTINUED. 

The  question  has  been  often  asked  by  intelligent  men 
of  every  civilized  country — how  is  it  that  a  young  nation, 
like  the  United  States,  with  but  a  small  navy,  and  that 
unaccustomed  to  naval  battles,  should  be  able  to  cope 
successfully,  upon  equal  terms,  with  British  ships-of-war  ? 
A  thousand  reasons  have  been  alleged  and  as  many 
times  contradicted. 

The  English  have  always  asserted  that  in  these  conflicts 
our  ships  were  larger,  carried  heavier  guns,  and  that  we 
had  so  small  a  navy  that  we  were  enabled  to  man  our 
ships  of  war  with  picked  seamen  from  the  merchant 
marine.  This  assertion  has  been  again  and  again  re 
peated,  and  when  by  us  refuted,  some  other  subterfuge 
has  been  raised,  to  evade  the  simple  facts  of  the  case. 

Mr.  Fenimore  Cooper,  in  a  charitable  spirit,  attributed 
our  successes  to  our  having  got  the  start  of  the  English  in 
the  modern  improvement  of  gunnery.  There  may  be 
some  truth  in  this,  but  I  think  the  true  reason  has  not 
yet  been  touched  upon,  or  brought  forward,  by  any 
writer  on  this  subject. 

I  will  therefore  proceed  to  give  what  I  believe  to  be 
the  true  cause  of  our  gaining  so  many  victories  over  our 
experienced  rival. 

In  my  opinion,  it  grows  out  of  the  different  formar 
tion  and  practical  workings  of  a  monarchical  govern 
ment  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  free  republic  on  the  other. 

In  England,  during  the  period  of  our  last  war,  if  their 
seamen  were  unwilling  to  enter  on  board  of  their  men- 
of-war,  they  were  impressed  for  an  indefinite  time,  forced 
to  fight  against  their  wills,  and  except  they  belonged  to 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  337 

respectable  families,  and  could  make  interest  at  court, 
stood  no  chance  of  promotion. 

They  felt  they  were  fighting  for  the  King  and  the  no 
bility,  for  a  country  in  whose  affairs  they  had  no  voice 
or  vote,  and  when  at  home,  were  of  no  consideration, 
and  only  expected  to  obey  their  superiors.  In  fine,  they 
knew  they  were  only  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the 
aristocracy,  and  not  a  constituent  part  of  the  nation. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  American  seamen  were  ship 
ped  for  a  term  of  two  or  three  years,  and  knew  when 
their  time  expired,  they  were  free,  and  could  not  be 
forced  on  board  against  their  wills.  Another  reason  for 
their  willingness  to  fight,  was  that  the  English  for  many 
years,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  impressing  them  into  their 
men-of-war,  where  they  were  compelled  to  fight  against 
nations  with  whom  they  had  no  quarrel. 

Another  strong  inducement  for  the  American  seamen 
to  enter  into  the  war  with  spirit  was,  that  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  had  declared  war  principally 
on  their  account.  This  fact  inspired  them  with  courage 
and  enthusiasm,  and  led  to  their  favorite  motto ; 

u  Free  trade  and  sailor's  rights,  and  no  impressment." 

An  American  seaman  also  feels  that  he  is  a  man,  and 
when  he  performs  his  duty  like  a  man,  that  he  is  entitled 
to  the  respect  due  to  a  free  citizen  of  a  great  republic, 
and  is  therefore  bound  to  sustain  its  honor  and  its  glory. 
He  also  feels  that  if  capable,  he  can  rise  to  fame  and  for 
tune,  irrespective  of  birth  or  family  influence. 

In  the  estimation  of  character,  an  American  appre 
ciates  a  man  according  to  his  talents  and  virtue,  and  not 
by  his  artificial  rank.  Witness  in  this  action  the  feeling 
I  have  attempted  to  describe  :  though  Capt.  Bicldle  was 
said  to  bo  a  strict  disciplinarian,  still,  by  reading  the 

99 


338  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

account  of  the  battle,  it  is  easy  to  see  how  much  he  was 
beloved  by  his  crew,  and  how  ready  they  were  to  resent 
the  outrage  committed  upon  him  after  the  enem3T  had 
surrendered. 

In  these  remarks,  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  cap 
tains  and  superior  officers  in  the  British  navy  are  not 
brave  and  gallant  men,  and  that  they  are  not  willing  to 
fight  for  their  king  and  country,  whenever  called  upon  ; 
on  the  contrary,  I  believe  them  to  be  ever  ready  to  shed 
the  last  drop  of  their  blood  in  defence  of  their  country's 
honor  and  glory.  But,  in  my  opinion,  this  does  not  ap 
ply  to  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  on  board  their  ships- 
of-war. 

If  this  assertion  be  not  true,  how  then,  can  any  one 
account  for  the  many  English  and  Irish  seamen  found  on 
board  of  our  men-of-war  and  privateers,  fighting  against 
their  own  nation,  when  not  one  American,  to  my 
knowledge,  voluntarily  fought  against  his  country  ? 

I  have  questioned  several  English  seamen  on  the  sub 
ject  of  their  fighting  against  their  country,  and  the  re 
ply,  in  all  cases,  was  about  the  same.  They  said,  it  is 
true  I  was  born  in  England,  but  never  had  any  concern 
in  its  social  or  political  institutions,  for  every  body 
knows  that  in  that  country  a  poor  man  has  no  part  or 
lot  in  its  government.  And  as  for  the  nobility  and 
privileged  classes,  I  hate  them  worse  than  poison. 

These  facts  are  not  generally  known  in  England, 
when  they  are  seeking  for  reasons  to  account  for  their 
many  defeats  in  their  naval  engagements  with  the  United 
States. 

The  British  soldiers  (called  marines)  on  board  of 
their  men-of-war,  are  brave  enough,  it  is  true,  but  are 
mere  tools  in  the  hands  of  the  aristocracy.  The  great 
portion  of  their  duty  is  to  protect  the  officers  and  watch 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  339 

the   seamen,  to   prevent  desertion  ;  consequently   they 
are  generally  despised  and  hated  by  the  sailors.* 

I  am  aware  that  I  am  writing  on  a  very  delicate  sub- 
'  ject,  but  as  I  have  attempted  to  prove  that  our  suc 
cesses  were  not  owing  to  employing  picked  seamen  to 
man  our  ships,  or  to  their  superior  weight  of  metal,  but 
almost  entirely  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  our  govern 
ment,  contrasted  with  a  monarchical  one  ;  and  in  carrying 
out  my  argument,  I  have  been  obliged  to  bring  out 
several  facts  which  I  suppose  will  not  be  very  agreeable 
to  an  English  ear. 

As  a  corroborating  fact  of  what  I  have  stated,  I  ask 
the  reader  to  call  to  mind  the  many  glorious  victories 
gained  by  the  French  republic  during  its  great  struggle 
against  combined  Europe.  With  an  army  of  a  hundred 
thousand  men,  singing  the  Marseilles  Hymn,  by  whole 
battalions,  accompanied  by  eighty  pieces  of  artillery 
playing  the  chorus,  they  swept  entire  armies  before, 
them.  Yes,  it  is  such  exciting  scenes  that  fully  de 
velop  the  power  of  republican  enthusiasm,  and  lead  men 
to  face  death  at  the  cannon's  mouth. 

During  our  war  with  England,  in  1812,  the  proneness 
of  the  people  of  that  country  to  credit  every  statement 
in  disparagement  of  their  adversaries,  was  eagerly 
seconded  by  the  government. 

The  government  papers  at  that  period  abounded  with 
falsehoods  so  gross,  and  with  perversions  so  reckless, 
that  the  people  might  well  suppose  the  Americans  to  be 
an  uncivilized  race,  between  whom  and  the  Indians,  lit 
tle  difference  existed. 

*  After  the  above  remarks  on  the  marine  corps,  candor  prompts  me  to  say 
that  they  are  a  very  important  arm  to  every  navy,  not  only  to  support  disci 
pline,  but  to  add  a  martial  appearance  to  a  man-of-war. 


340  THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

The  Official  reports  of  battles  at  that  epoch,  whether 
on  sea  or  land,  were  studiously  deceptive.  « 

No  account  by  any  British  naval  or  army  officer,  of  his 
defeat  or  disaster  could  be  published  until  "revised 
and  corrected"  by  the  Admiralty  or  the  Horse  Guards. 

Every  success  was  magnified  and  exaggerated,  while 
every  defeat  was  qualified  and  attributed  to  any  other 
cause  than  American  valor,  seamanship,  or  general 
ship. 

The  victories  of  Hull,  Perry,  McDonough,  and  Jack 
son,  were  ascribed  to  monstrous  disparity  of  force  on 
our  side,  aided  by  those  untoward  accidents  which  bra 
very  and  skill  can  neither  avert  nor  overcome. 

I  need  not  say  to  any  American  reader,  that  the 
frigate  President  was  captured  after  one  of  the  most 
gallant  and  well  conducted  battles  in  naval  annals. 

She  encountered  a  British  squadron,  consisting  of  the 
frigate  Endymion,  the  Majestic  Razee,  and  the  frigates 
Pomone  and  Tennydos. 

She  had  a  severe  running  fight  with  the  Endymion  for 
two  hours  and  a  half,  and  had  so  completely  beaten  that 
ship,  that  she  was  silenced,  and  dropped  far  astern,  wait 
ing  for  the  other  three  ships  to  come  up  •  and  yet  the 
government  papers  announced,  in  their  usual  inflated 
language  of  triumph,  the  capture  of  the  American  fri 
gate  President,  by  His  Majesty's  ship  Endymion. 

They  have  now  in  England  and  its  colonies,  beautiful 
engravings  in  rich  frames,  representing  a  most  gallant 
victory  by  the  Endymion  over  the  President,  the  two 
ships  lying  side  by  side,  and  no  other  vessel  in  the  pic 
ture,  nor  any  indication  by  note  or  comment,  that  it  was 
any  other  than  a  single  battle  between  the  two  ships. 

If  we  measure  the  degree  of  civilization  of  a  people 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  341 

by  their  humanity  in  war,  we  adopt  a  just  standard. 
The  savage  and  the  Christian  differ  in  few  respects,  more 
strikingly,  than  in  their  bearing  towards  their  enemies. 
Cruelty,  plunder,  and  slaughter  are  inseparable  from  the 
idea  of  bravery  and  glory  in  the  estimation  of  the  former, 
while  the  elevating  spirit  of  our  religion  and  of  the  civili 
zation,  of  which  that  religion  is  the  fountain,  impel  the 
the  latter  to  mercy  and  humanity. 

With  civilized  powers,  the  triumph  of  the  victor  is  not 
complete  until  he  has  manifested,  not  only  forbearance, 
but  kindness  towards  the  vanquished.  Prisoners  of  war 
cease  to  stand  as  enemies,  and  are  thenceforth  but  fellow- 
men,  entitled  to  those  humanities  which  man  owes  to  his 
fellow-man.  Civilized  nations,  in  waging  war,  are  ever 
bound  to  respect  and  shelter  private  persons,  and  in 
passing  through  an  enemy's  country,  to  protect  private 
property,  defenceless  age,  women  and  children.  The 
brutal  passions  of  depraved  soldiers  must  be  restrained, 
and  unnecessary  bloodshed  avoided. 

The  British  lay  high  claim  to  such  civilization  and  to 
such  humanity.  It  would  be  unjust  to  deny  that  their 
humane  and  gallant  officers  have,  in  very  many  instan 
ces,  justified  such  claim.  Such  men,  for  instance,  as  Sir 
Thomas  Hardy  and  Captain  "W.  F.  Wise,  are  an  honor 
to  any  nation.  From  the  latter,  the  writer  acknowledges 
for  himself  and  his  officers,  with  warm  friendship  and 
gratitude,  the  reception  of  the  most  delicate  and  gener 
ous  attention,  while  prisoners  on  board  the  frigate 
G-ranicus. 

But  such  was  not  the  customary  treatment  received 
by  American  prisoners  in  the  war  of  1812.  As  a  gen 
eral  thing,  when  an  American  merchant  ship  or  private 
armed  vessel  was  captured,  all  charts,  books  and  nauti 
cal  instruments  were  seized  and  taken  away  ;  and  the 


342  THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

only  answer  to  remonstrances  was,  that  this  conduct  was 
under  orders  from  the  Admiralty.  •  Nor  did  plunder 
always  stop  here,  it  was  often  extended,  under  the 
same  plea,  to  the  immediate  personal  effects  of  the 
captives. 

The  treatment  of  prisoners  was  generally  most  unjus 
tifiable,  and  in  many  cases,  such  as  to  outrage  decency 
and  humanity.  Captains,  mates  and  supercargoes,  as 
well  as  crews,  were  sent  to  prison,  or  stowed  away  in 
filthy  prison-ships.  They  were  not  allowed  their  per 
sonal  liberty  on  parole  of  honor,  except  in  a  few  cases, 
where  powerful  interest  could  be  brought  to  bear  in  be 
half  of  individuals. 

I  believe  that  I  may  say  for  the  credit  of  our  flag,  that 
whenever  one  of  our  national  or  private  armed  ships  cap 
tured  a  British  vessel,  all  private  property  of  the  officers 
and  crew  was  held  sacred,  and  when  the  prisoners  reached 
the  United  States,  captains,  mates,  and  supercargoes 
were  allowed  social  liberty  on  their  parole  of  honor, 
with  the  full  range  of  the  city  or  town  where  they  were 
quartered.  Whenever  their  personal  qualities  were  such 
as  to  entitle  them  to  it,  they  enjoyed  the  social  hospi 
tality  of  our  citizens.  The  seamen  were  so  well  fed  and 
amply  provided  for,  that  in  very  many  instances  they 
left  the  country  with  great  reluctance,  when  exchanged 
for  American  prisoners. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  has  no  wish  or  willingness  to 
take  a  narrow  view  of  so  broad  a  subject  as  the  character 
istics  of  a  great,  powerful,  enlightened,  Christian,  and 
brave  nation.  Such  undoubtedly,  our  former  enemy 
was  and  is,  but  still  it  is  impossible  in  seeking  for  truth, 
to  shut  our  eyes  to  the  wide  space  which  lies  between 
her  claims  and  her  merits  in  these  respects.  The  shock 
ing  and  long-continued  barbarities  practised  toward  her 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  343 

prisoners  in  the  war  of  our  revolution,  are  recorded  in 
the  history  of  the  "Old  Sugar  House,"  "The  Jail," 
"  The  Jersey  Prison  Ship,"  at  the  Wallabout,  and  other 
abodes  of  cruelty  and  wretchedness.  The  war  which 
followed  in  1812,  witnessed  her  incomplete  civilization 
in  the  miseries  inflicted  at  Dartmoor  prison. 

With  how  much  pride  can  we  point,  not  only  to  out 
action  toward  the  enemy  on  the  sea,  but  to  the  conduct 
of  our  officers  and  soldiers  in  battle  and  after  battle  on  the 
land.  Such  an  act  as  the  recent  demolition  by  the  Bri 
tish  troops  of  the  choice  treasures  of  ancient  art  and 
learning,  which  the  studies  and  toils  of  scholars  and  an 
tiquarians  had  garnered  up  in  the  National  Museum  of 
Kertch,  fixes  an  indelible  blot  on  the  escutcheon  of  Eng 
land. 

In  blazing  contrast  to  such  shocking  acts  as  this,  and 
the  sack  of  Badajoz,  to  which  reference  will  presently 
be  made,  was  the  recent  campaign  by  our  troops  under 
General  Scott,  from  Yera  Cruz  to  Mexico.  Almost 
every  mile  of  that  long  journey  was  rendered  memo 
rable  by  some  sanguinary  battle,  and  victory  terminating 
in  the  surrender  of  the  great  city  itself.  Plunder,  sack, 
and  rapine  were  unknown.  The  very  supplies  takeii 
from  the  inhabitants  for  our  troops,  were  fully  paid  for  ; 
private  property  and  houses  were  respected,  and  out 
rage  upon  age  or  sex  was  unknown.  *f  - 

It  is  not  easy  to  say  whether  our  troops,  and  their 
illustrious  commander  (General  Winfield  Scott),  achieved 
more  glory  for  their  country  by  their  intrepid  and  in 
vincible  valor,  or  in  illustrating  the  civilization  of 
America  by  their  humanity  and  morality. 

What  more  striking  contrast  can  be  presented  than 
that  between  the  conduct  of  the  triumphant  Americans 


344  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

under  Scott,  at  Mexico,  and  that  of  the  triumphant 
British  under  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  at  Badajoz. 

That  I  may  avoid  the  charge  of  exaggeration  in  de 
scribing  the  conduct  of  the  latter  on  that  occasion,  I  will 
subjoin  the  narration  of  it,  by  the  author  of  a  recent 
English  work,  devoted  to  the  eulogy  of  the  great 
Duke. 

The  most  of  my  readers  will  probably  recollect,  that 
during  the  siege  of  Badajoz,  Lord  Wellington  promised 
his  soldiers  that  if  they  would  capture  the  place,  they 
should  be  allowed  to  sack  and  plunder  it. 

After  a  sanguinary  conflict,  it  was  finally  taken  by 
storm,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1812  j  and,  agreeable  to 
promise,  the  ill-fated  city  was  given  up  to  rapine 
and  outrage  for  a  period  of  one  day  and  two  nights. 

Here  follows  the  recital  of  the  savage  brutality  of  the 
British  soldiers,  as  given  by  Colonel  Maxwell,  of  the 
British  army,  in  his  own  words : 

' '  No  language  can  depict  the  horrors  which  succeed  a 
storm.  The  following  vivid,  but  faithful  picture  of  Bad 
ajoz,  as  it  appeared  on  the  evening  after  it  had  been 
carried,  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  dreadful  outrages 
that  ensued. 

"  Jt  was  nearly  dusk,  and  the  few  hours  while  I  slept 
had  made  a  frightful  change  in  the  condition  and  tem 
per  of  the  soldiery.  In  the  morning  they  were  obedient 
to  their  officers,  and  preserved  the  semblance  of  subor 
dination  ;  now  they  were  in  a  state  of  furious  intoxica 
tion  ;  discipline  was  forgotten,  and  the  splendid  troops 
of  yesterday  had  become  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  rabble, 
dead  to  every  touch  of  human  feeling,  and  filled  with 
every  demoniac  passion  that  can  brutalize  the  man. 
The  town  was  in  terrible  confusion,  and  on  every 
side  frightful  tokens  of  military  license  met  the  eye. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  345 

"One  street,  as  I  approached  the  castle,  was  almost 
choked  up  with  broken  furniture,  for  the  houses  had 
been  gutted  from  the  cellar  to  the  garret,  the  partitions 
torn  down,  and  even  the  beds  ripped  and  scattered  to  the 
winds,  in  the  hope  that  gold  might  be  found  con 
cealed. 

"  A  convent*  at  the  end  of  the  strada  of  St.  John 
was  in  flames,  and  I  saw  more  than  one  wretched  nun 
in  the  arms  of  a  drunken  soldier. 

"  Further  on,  the  confusion  seemed  greater.  Brandy 
and  wine  casks  were  rolled  out  before  the  stores  ;  some 
were  full,  some  half-drunk,  but  more  staved  in  mere 
wantonness,  and  the  liquors  running  through  the 
kennel. 

"  Many  a  harrowing  scream  saluted  the  ear  of  the 
passer-by  ;  many  a  female  supplication  was  heard  asking 
in  vain  for  mercy.  How  could  it  be  otherwise,  when  it 
is  remembered  that  twenty  thousand  furious  and  licen 
tious  madmen  were  loosed  upon  an  immense  population, 
among  which  many  of  the  loveliest  women  upon  earth 
might  be  found  ? 

"  All  within  that  devoted  city  was  at  the  disposal  of 
an  infuriated  army,  over  whom  for  a  time  control  was 
lost,  aided  by  an  infamous  collection  of  camp-followers, 
who  were,  if  possible,  more  sanguinary  and  pitiless  even 
than  those  who  had  survived  the  storm  ! 

"  It  is  useless  to  dwell  upon  a  scene  from  which  the  heart 
revolts.  Few  females  in  this  beautiful  town  were  saved* 
that  night  from  insult.  The  noble  and  the  beggar — the 
nun.  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the  artisan — youth  and 

0  A  general  officer,  having  received  secret  information  that  a  soldier's 
wife  had  been  robbing,  had  her  stripped  by  the  provost,  who  found  on  her 
person  an  under  garment  of  red  velvet,  bordered  with  gold  lace,  six  inches 
deep.  This  article  had  evidently  been  the  covering  of  a  communion  table. 


346  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

age — all  were  involved  in  general  ruin.  None  were  re 
spected,  and  few  consequently  escaped.  The  madness 
of  those  desperate  brigands  was  variously  exhibited  ; 
some  fired  through  doors  and  windows  ;  others  at  the 
church  bells  ;  many  at  the  wretched  inhabitants  as  they 
fled  into  the  streets  to  escape  the  bayonets  of  the  sav 
ages,  who  were  demolishing  their  property  within 
doors  ;  while  some  wretches,  as  if  blood  had  not  flowed 
in  sufficient  torrents  already,  shot  from  the  windows 
their  own  companions  as  they  staggered  on  below. 

"  What  chances  had  the  miserable  inhabitants  of 
escaping  death,  when  more  than  one  officer  perished  by 
the  bullets  and  bayonets  of  the  very  men  whom  a  few 
hours  before  he  had  led  to  the  assault  ? 

"  Strict  measures  were  taken  on  the  second  day  by 
Lord  "Wellington  to  repress  these  desperate  excesses,  and 
save  the  infuriated  soldiery  from  the  fatal  consequences 
their  own  debauchery  produced.* 

11  A  Portuguese  brigade  was  brought  from  the  rear, 
and  sent  into  the  town,  accompanied  by  the  provost 
marshal  and  the  gallows. 

"  This  demonstration  had  its  due  effect,  and  one  rope 
carried  terror  to  rioters,  whom  the  bayonets  of  a  whole 
regiment  could  not  appal. "f 

In  presenting  this  fearful  picture.  I  am  actuated  by 
no  desire  to  foment  ill-feelmg  between  the  people  of  the 
two  great  nations. 

*  "  On  entering  the  cathedral,  I  saw  three  British  soldiers  literally  drowned 
in  brandy.  A  spacious  vault  had  been  converted  into  a  spirit  depot  for  the 
garrison;  the  casks  had  been  perforated  by  musket  balls,  and  their  contents 
escaping,  formed  a  pool  of  some  depth.  These  men,  becoming  intoxicated, 
had  fallen  head-foremost  into  the  liquor,  and  were  suffocated,  as  I  found 
them." 

t  These  extracts  are  from  Maxwell's  li  Victories  of  Wellington  and  the  Brit 
ish  Armies,"  (page  258)  author  of  '' Stories  of  Waterloo,"  "  The  Bivouac,' J 
'  The  Life  of  Wellington,"  etc.,  etc.  London :  Henry  G-.  Bohn,  1852. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  347 

War  is  a  sore  calamity  and  a  curse,  and  that  nation 
achieves  the  greatest  victory  which  mitigates  its  cruel 
ties  and  wrongs.  But,  while  history  records  such  fiend 
ish  deeds  as  I  have  cited,  and  the  history  of  British  In 
dia  is  one  of  unchristian  oppression  and  cruelty  by  the 
great  Christian  nation  of  Europe,  we  may  well  claim  for 
ouivcountry  that  her  page,  thus  far,  is  brighter,  purer, 
clearer  than  that  of  our  mother  country. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  arrived  at  Lisbon  a  few 
weeks  after  the  fall  of  Badajoz,  and  saw  great  numbers 
of  wounded  British  officers,  who  came  down  from  that 
place  to  Lisbon  for  a  change  of  air,  and  relaxation  from 
military  duty  to  recover  from  their  wounds. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  capture  of  Badajoz,  several 
American  gentlemen  left  Lisbon  from  motives  of  curiosity 
to  witness  the  siege  of  the  unfortunate  city,  and  if  it  fell, 
they  intended  to  visit  it,  while  given  up  to  plunder  and 
rapine.  They  accordingly  saw  the  assault  and  sur 
render  of  the  place,  and  the  next  day  visited  the 
town. 

The  most  of  these  gentlemen  have  since  died,  there 
is,  however,  one  of  them  still  living  in  New  York  City, 
Alexander  Hamilton,  Esq.  This  gentleman  not  only 
confirms  all  the  revolting  scenes  related  by  Colonel  Max 
well,  but  adds,  as  an  eye  witness,  many  other  heart 
rending  sights,  which  are  enough  to  freeze  the  bloocl 
with  horror. 

After  my  severe  remarks  on  the  English,  some  of  my 
readers  may  accuse  me  of  being  prejudiced  against  them. 
Tt  is  true  that  my  father,  in  the  revolutionary  war,  was 
a  prisoner  for  several  moirths  on  board  the  Jersey  Prison 
Ship,  in  New  York,  and  that  I  had  a  brother  who  was  a 
prisoner  in  1812,  at  Dartmoor,  during  the  massacre  ; 
still  I  think  I  can  do  the  English  justice,  arid  herewith 


:>48  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

challenge  the  world  to  name  a  single  instance  in  this 
history,  where  I  have  deviated  from  the  truth  in  the 
smallest  degree. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Lady  Trowbridge,  8  guns,  208  tons,  with  a  car 
go  of  live  stock,  from  the  Cape  de  Yerds  for  Barbadoes, 
captured  by  the  brig  Ino,  of  Boston,  and  burnt.  This 
vessel  was  captured  and  destroyed  within  two  miles  of 
the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  and  within  view  of  the  British 
vessels-of-war,  lying  at  Bridgetown.  The  Ino  was  lost 
off  Charleston,  the  particulars  are  interesting,  and  are  as 
follows  : 

EXTRACTED  FROM  A  CHARLESTON  PAPER. 

"  Charleston,  March  1th. — The  officers  of  the  Ino 
reached  town  yesterday  morning,  from  Bull's  Bay,  and 
politely  furnished  the  editor  of  the  City  Gazette,  with 
the  subjoined  particulars  of  the  cruise,  and  subsequent 
destruction  of  said  vessel.  The  name  of  the  reef  on 
which  the  Ino  struck,  is  Racoon  Key.  Her  crew,  82  in 
number,  arrived  here  yesterday,  having  come  from  the 
scene  of  their  shipwreck  on  foot.  The  Ino  belonged  to 
Boston,  and  was  owned  by  the  Hon.  William  Gray. 

"  It  is  to  be  observed,  that  on  Friday  last,  the  3d  in 
stant,  twelve  days  had  elapsed  since  the  date  of  the  Pre 
sident's  proclamation,  and  thirteen  since  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  of  peace,  which  by  one  of  its  articles,  allows 
twelve  days  to  put  an  end  to  hostilities  on  our  coast,  of 
which  circumstance  the  captain  of  the  Severn  could  not 
but  be  informed  ;  and  yet  he  drove  the  Ino  on  shore, 
and  made  prisoners  of  two  of  her  crew.  This  may  be 
peaceable  and  friendly  conduct  in  the  vocabulary  of 
John  Bull,  but  it  is  very  different  in  that  of  Ameri- 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  349 

cans.     We  hope  it  is  the  last  act  of  the  kind  we  shall 
hear  of.'7 

"  '  March  1th. — Early  in  the  morning  in  10  fathoms 
water,  off  Charleston,  standing  in,  discovered  a  large 
ship  at  anchor  off  the  bar,  wind  light  at  N.N.E.,  hauled 
close  on  the  wind,  starboard-tacks  aboard.  The  ship, 
which  we  soon  discovered  to  be  a  frigate,  weighed  and 
stood  for  us,  and  by  the  shifting  of  the  wind,  hemmed 
us  in  between  her  and  the  shore  •  after  making  every 
exertion  with  sweeps,  etc.,  to  get  clear,  found  that  the 
frigate,  by  the  help  of  her  boats,  and  a  breeze,  which 
sprung  up  from  the  offing,  came  so  fast  upon  us,  that  we 
could  neither  get  into  Charleston,  nor  weather  away 
Cape  Remain,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  bear  up,  and 
endeavor  to  get  into  Bull's  Bay,  in  which  attempt  the 
Ino  unfortunately  struck  upon  a  reef.  On  this  being 
perceived,  the  frigate  immediately  sent  her  boats  to  at 
tack  us,  but  by  a  few  well-directed  rounds  of  grape  and 
canister,  they  were  forced  to  retire.  In  the  night  the 
Ino  bilged,  and  threatening  to  go  to  pieces,  we  (having 
lost  our  boats  some  days  before)  proceeded  to  construct 
rafts,  to  transport  ourselves  on  shore.  At  4  A.  M.  cut 
away  our  masts,  she  being  in  a  very  dangerous  condition, 
and  laying  on  her  beam  ends.  At  daylight  discovered 
the  frigate  at  anchor,  and  her  boats  pulling  for  us — pre 
pared  to  receive  them,  when  within  grape  range,  hoisted 
our  flag  on  a  pike-staff,  and  gave  them  a  broadside  of 
grape  and  canister  ;  on  which  they  precipitately  hauled 
off.  We  then  manned  our  rafts,  and  set  fire  to  the  Ino. 
At  2  P.  M.  she  blew  up. 

"  '  While  at  the  most  imminent  hazard  of  our  lives,  our 
rafts  torn  to  pieces  by  the  breakers,  and  part  of  us  swim 
ming,  they  again  came  in  with  their  boats,  and  valiantly 
took  two  poor  fellows,  who  were  swimming  for  their  lives, 


350  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

and  carried  them  off.  We  finally  succeeded  in  getting 
on  a  sand  bar,  from  which  unpleasant  situation  we  were 
relieved  by  the  humanity  of  Captain  John  Phillips,  of 
Charleston,  commanding  a  small  schooner  lying  in  the 
bay.  The  officers  of  the  Ino,  for  the  present,  forbear 
making  any  comments  on  this  extraordinary  transaction, 
but  merely  observe  that  they  had  no  idea  of  peace  having 
taken  place,  but  have  ascertained  that  the  captain  of 
the  frigate  Severn  had  known  it  for  many  days.'  ; 

British  ship  Mary  and  Susan,  470  tons,  with  an  im 
mense  cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  from  London  for  Ja 
maica,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 
The  Mary  and  Susan  was  a  fine  vessel,  and  her  cargo 
very  valuable. 

The  schooner  Arrow,  from  Catalonia  for  London,  with 
100  casks  of  almonds,  1650  casks  of  hazel-nuts,  sent 
into  Salem,  by  the  America  of  that  port.  The  Arrow 
was  captured  January  22d  and  the  America  had  previ 
ously  made  several  valuable  prizes  on  the  same  cruise. 

Ship  Adventure  for  Havana,  with  a  valuable  assorted 
cargo,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  ordered  for  Charles 
ton,  but  she  was  unfortunately  re-captured  by  the  Sev 
ern  frigate.  We  call  her  a  good  prize,  however,  because 
her  most  valuable  effects  were  taken  out  by  the  Chas 
seur,  and  in  this  way  secured. 

Schooner  Robert,  from  Portsmouth,  England,  for  St. 
Michael's,  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and  de 
stroyed. 

Sloop  Jubilee,  from  Teneriffe,  for  Jersey,  with  wine 
and  barilla,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  few 
pipes  of  wine,  and  destroyed. 

Ship  Emulation,  captured  by  the  Syren  privateer,  and 
put  into  Gracioso,  Western  Isles,  where,  it  is  said,  she 
was  abandoned  by  her  prize-crew 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  351 

British  ship  -  — ,  captured  by  the  McDonough,  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  burnt. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE    McDONOUGH. 

"Jan.  3lst. — At  12  M.  discovered  a  large  ship  under 
our  lea,  making  signals,  about  two  leagues  distant,  show 
ing  two  tiers  of  ports.  At  1  o'clock,  p.  M.,  edged  down 
for  her,  and  discovered  her  lower  battery  to  be  false  ; 
immediately  prepared  for  action,  At  2  o'clock,  bore  up 
for  his  weather  quarter,  and  hoisted  our  colors  ;  the  en 
emy  at  the  same  time  hauling  up  his  courses,  and  lying  by 
for  us.  At  half  past  two  commenced  the  action  within 
musket  shot,  observing  the  enemy  to  fire  7  guns  from 
his  broadside,  besides  swivels,  with  a  tremendous  shower 
of  musketry,  which  led  us  to  suppose  her  to  be  a  troop 
ship,  in  which  we  were  not  mistaken.  At  half  past  three, 
passed  close  under  her  bows  to  rake  her,  when  we  dis 
covered  her  decks  full  of  soldiers,  who  gave  us  a  tremen 
dous  volley.  At  three  quarters  past  three,  our  braces, 
bowlines  and  haulyards,  being  all  shot  away,  our  sails 
literally  cut  to  pieces,  rigging  much  damaged,  and  two 
guns  dismounted,  11  men  wounded,  7  severely,  7  shot 
in  our  hull,  our  fore  and  main  masts  badly  wounded,  our 
stern  boat  had  two  18  pound  shot  through  her,  the 
enemy  being  far  superior  to  us  in  point  of  metal,  hav 
ing  eighteen  nine  pounders,  and  at  least  300  soldiers, 
besides  her  crew,  thought  it  prudent  to  haul  off.  Our 
enemy  having  suffered,  to  appearance,  bore  away  for 
Teneriflfe,  with  some  of  her  people  slung  over  the  sides, 
stopping  shot  holes.  At  3  A.M.  tacked  ship  to  the  S.W., 
all  hands  employed  repairing  sails,  rigging,  gun  carriages, 
and  other  damages."  The  McDonough  arrived  at  Savan 
nah,  March  7th. 

Schooner  Ceres,  from  Newfoundland  for  Dublin,  cargo 


352  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

15,000  gallons  of  oil,  captured  by  the  Reindeer,  of  Bos 
ton,  and  destroyed. 

Schooner  William,  of  London,  from  White-Haven  for 
St.  Michaels,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Sloop  Unity,  from  Lisbon  for  Brook-Haven,  with 
oranges,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to 
get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Daphne,  2  guns,  200  tons,  with  a  full  cargo,  for 
London,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  quantity  of 
cloves,  etc.,  manned  and  ordered  to  a  port  in  the  United 
States. 

The  Reindeer  also  captured  another  valuable  brig, 
name  not  given,  which  she  manned  and  ordered  to  a 
port  in  the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Young  Wasp  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
laden  with  valuable  goods,  from  a  successful  cruise  off 
the  coasts  of  England  and  Spain,  and  from  thence  off  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  around  the  island  of  St.  Helena. 
She  was  one  hundred  and  seventy  days  absent,  and 
made  eight  prizes  ;  the  most  of  them  valuable.  She 
had  three  engagements  with  the  enemy.  The  first  with 
a  well  armed  and  manned  letter-of-marque  ship,  which 
she  mistook  for  a  sloop-of-war,  and  hauled  off.  The 
second  with  a  man-of-war  brig  ;  they  soon  separated. 
The  third  with  the  ship  Clarendon,  of  14  guns  and  50 
men,  from  Batavia,  bound  for  London,  with  a  valuable 
cargo.  With  this  ship  the  privateer  had  a  battle  for  a 
short  time,  when  the  enemy  surrendered.  In  this 
affair  the  Wasp  had  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded. 

She  manned  the  Clarendon  and  ordered  her  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  first  port  in  the  United  States,  and  then  con 
tinued  on  her  cruise.  She  also  captured  the  English 
brig  Plutus,  from  London  for  Teneriffe,  with  an  assorted 


1815.]  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  353 

cargo.  The  privateer  divested  her  prize  of  a  considera 
ble  portion  of  her  cargo,  when  an  English  frigate  hove  in 
sight,  which  obliged  her  to  abandon  h^r  prize  and  make 
her  escape.  Subsequently  she  captured  the  ship  Mary 
Ann,  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  bound  for  Malacca, 
and  after  divesting  her  of  sundry  articles,  allowed  her  to 
proceed  on  her  voyage. 

During  this    cruise,    the    Wasp    traversed    a    space 
of  30,000  miles,  and  with  but  little  loss. 

Brig  Lord  Duncan,  from  Liverpool  for  Bermuda, 
captured  by  the  Morgiana,  of  ]STew  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Cossack, f  6  guns,  from  Cork,  for  Jamaica,  cap 
tured  by  the  same,  divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get 
rid  of  her  prisoners. 

Schooner  Resolution,  with  sugar,  molasses,  etc., 
sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop ,  captured  by  the  same,  in  the  West  Indies, 

divested,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Ship  Otway,  3  guns,  from  Liverpool  for  Jamaica,  with 
a  rich  cargo  of  British  goods  and  sundries,  captured  by 
the  same,  divested  of  as  many  goods  as  the  privateer 
could  stow  away,  manned  and  ordered  her  into  port. 

The  Kemp  arrived  safe  at  Baltimore  with  200  bales 
and  packages  of  British  goods,  1,800  stand  of  arms,  and 
sundry  other  articles  of  merchandize. 

The  Kemp  captured  a  British  brig  (name  not  given), 
mounting  14  guns,  with  40  men,  after  a  warm  action  of 
forty  minutes,  when  the  enemy  struck  his  colors.  Di 
vested  the  prize  of  sundry  articles,  and  manned  her  for 
the  United  States. 

In  this  action  the  Kemp  had  one  man  killed  and  two 
wounded. 

On  board  of  the  brig  there  were  two  killed  and  eight 
wounded. 

23 


354  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

Soon  after  the  capture  of  this  vessel,  the  prize  crew 
were  obliged 'to  abandon  her,  being  .closely  pursued  by 
a  British  ship-of-war.  They  were  obliged  to  take  to 
their  boats  and  return  to  the  privateer. 

Brig  Alexander,  captured  by  the  Leo,  of  Baltimore, 
and  cast  away  near  Ferrol,  while  entering  that  port  in  a 
heavy  gale  of  wind. 

Brig  Eagle,  captured  by  the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore  ; 
afterwards  re-captured  and  wrecked.  She  was  chiefly 
laden  with  dry-goods. 

The  British  ship  Arabella,  of  Calcutta,  was  captured 
by  the  letter- of-marque  ship  Rambler,  of  Boston,  on  her 
passage  to  Canton,  and  carried  into  Macao.  A  letter 
from  Captain  Edes,  of  the  Rambler,  dated  at  Canton, 
December  6th,  says  : — "  Our  prize  (the  ship  Arabella) 
arrived  at  Macao  the  same  day  we  arrived  at  Can 
ton,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  Portu 
guese  government,  and  given  up  to  the  British  Ad 
miral  on  this  station.  I  have  protested  against  this 
proceeding,  and  hope  a  proper  representation  will  be 
made  to  the  Portuguese  government,  who  ought,  in  jus 
tice,  to  pay  us  the  amount  she  was  insured  for,  at  Cal 
cutta  (60.000  rupees),  eighteen  days  out.  I  also  cap 
tured  the  British  brig  Madeira,  took  out  75  casks  of 
wine,  and  gave  her  up." 

Ship  Anne,  417  tons,  -•-  guns,  25  men,  with  a  great 
cargo  of  mahogany,  logwood  and  fustic  ;  coppered,  and 
in  fine  order,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Bal 
timore,  after  a  slight  resistance,  and  sent  into  New 
York. 

English  brig  Crown  Prince,  with  a  cargo  of  merino 
wool,  sent  into  Sedgewick,  by  the  Portsmouth,  of  Ports 
mouth.  The  value  of  this  prize  was  supposed  to  be 
$300,000. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  355 

British  brig  Juno,  a  transport,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Ocean,  from  Merimachi  for  Glasgow,  laden  with 
timber,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Langton,  from  Richiebucto,  N.  S.,  for  Scotland, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed. 

Brig  Adeona,  with  450  bales  and  packages  of  broad 
cloths,  etc.,  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and  sent 
into  that  port,  this  was  a  very  valuable  prize. 

Schooner  Sultan,  laden  with  cocoa,  captured  by  the 
Morgiana,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Wilming 
ton,  N.  C. 

Brig  Sarah,  for  Alicant,  with  codfish,  captured  by  the 
Warrior  of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Legal  Tender,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  captured 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  recaptured  by  the  Spencer  74, 
on  the  7th  of  March. 

Ship  Antigua,  320  tons,  with  a  full  cargo  of  West 
India  produce,  was  captured  off  the  Western  Islands  by 
the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Ship  City  of  Limerick,  with  a  very  valuable  cargo, 
from  London  for  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Morgiana,  of 
New  York,  and  ordered  into  port,  after  having  been 
divested  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo. 

Brig  Helen,  from  London  for  Jamaica,  laden  with  dry- 
goods  and  iron,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ordered  into 
port. 

We  accounted  these  good  prizes,  for  the  Morgiana 
arrived  with  property  valued  at  $230,000,  which  she 
took  out  of  her  prizes. 

Schooner  Perseverance,  from  Granada  for  Demarara, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  John,  from  Martinique  for  Antigua,  captured  by 
the  same,  and  burnt. 


356  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Brig  Maria  Annabella,  from  Dublin  for  St.  Kitts,  cap 
tured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  divested  of  a  few  Irish  linens, 
and  burnt.  Her  cargo  consisted  chiefly  of  provi 
sions. 

Sloops  Twins  and  FEspirance,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested,  and  given  up. 

Sloop  Constitution,  from  St.  Barts  for  Dominica, cap 
tured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Mohawk,  of  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Zebec 
Ultor.  We  account  this  a  fortunate  circumstance,  being 
a  good  prize  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  ;  she  safely 
arrived  in  port. 

Ship  -  — ,  captured  by  the  letter- of-marque  ship 
Jacob  Jones,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  to  Canton,  and 
divested  of  $60,000  worth  of  opium,  etc.,  and  then  sent 
her  to  a  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Baltic,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  of  Salern  ; 
recaptured  by  the  British,  and  since  lost.  She  had  a  car 
go  of  sweet  oil. 

Cutter  Sloop  Busy,  of  Guernsey,  from  Plymouth  for 
St.  Michaels,  with  potatoes,  captured  by  the  America  of 
Salem,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Black  Joke,  of  London,  for  Terceira,  with 
coal,  porter,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Packet  ship  Elizabeth,  in  ballast,  8  guns,  31  men, 
captured  by  the  same,  after  a  short  battle,  in  which  the 
Elizabeth  had  2  men  killed,  and  13  wounded,  and  was 
literally  cut  to  pieces,  her  masts,  spars,  hull,  and  sails 
being  penetrated  by  more  than  700  shot,  while  the 
America  received  no  injury,  either  in  men,  rigging,  or  hull. 
The  Elizabeth  was  divested  of  her  armament,  and  given 
up  to  her  original  crew.  She  was  bound  from  Rio  Ja 
neiro  to  Falmouth,  England.  Beside  the  foregoing  and 
two  others,  the  America  captured  and  manned  a  very 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  357 

valuable  ship,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  and  a  brig  laden  with 
sugar,  from  Antigua  for  Glasgow.  The  America  had 
on  board  more  than  $10,000  worth  of  valuable  goods, 
taken  out  of  her  prizes  at  sea.  This  fortunate  ship  safely 
arrived  at  Salem  on  the  10th  of  April,  after  a  cruise  of 
134  days,  without  losing  a  single  man  either  by  sick 
ness  or  casualty.  It  is  stated  that  she  had,  during  the 
war,  cleared  more  than  $600,000  for  her  owners. 

The  privateer  Avon,  of  14  guns,  was  captured  by  the 
British  brig  Barbadoes,  of  17  guns,  after  a  warm  action  of 
an  hour  and  a  half,  the  British  brig-of- war  Columbine  being 
within  three  miles  in  chase,  and  coming  up.  The  Avon 
had  one  man  killed,  and  four  wounded,  the  Barbadoes 
one  killed,  and  three  wounded.  Twenty-two  of  the  best 
men  belonging  to  the  former  were  absent  at  the  time  of 
the  fight,  in  a  small  sloop,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting 
vessels  out  from  St.  Kitts.  The  sloop  was  also  captured 
by  the  British  the  next  day. 

The  privateer  Hyder  Ali,  Captain  Thorndike,  of  Bos 
ton,  was  captured  in  the  East  Indies,  by  the  British 
frigate  Owen  Glendower.  She  had  been  chased  for 
three  days  by  the  Salsetta,  frigate,  from  which  ship  she 
escaped,  but  in  so  doing,  the  privateer  was  driven  with 
in  gun-shot  of  the  Owen  Grlendower,  which  ship  soon 
brought  her  within  the  reach  of  her  musketry,  when  she 
was  obliged  to  surrender.  She  had,  previous  to  her 
capture,  made  nine  prizes,  which  vessels  were  unfor 
tunately  recaptured. 

The  famous  privateer  Prince,  of  Neufchatel,  was  cap 
tured  and  sent  into  England. 

An  American  letter-of-marque  schooner,  a  fast  sailing 
vessel,  arrived  at  Canton  in  December,  1814,  with  a 
cargo  of  seal  skins,  valued  at  $300,000.  These  skins 


358  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

were  taken  from  the  Fejee,  and  other  islands  in  the 
Pacific. 

She  was  out  of  the  influence  of  the  war,  and  made  a 
very  successful  voyage. 

British  schooner,  name  not  given,  captured  by  the 
Fox  privateer  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  ;  after  divesting  the 
prize  of  the  valuable  part  of  her  cargo,  destroyed  her. 
This  privateer  annoyed  the  enemy  during  the  whole  of 
the  war,  and  arrived  safe  at  Portsmouth,  after  having 
made  seven  successful  cruises. 

Schooner  John  and  Ann,  from  Halifax  for  the  West 
Indies,  captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia, 
manned,  but  lost  on  Ocracock  bar,  N.  C. 

SKETCH  OF  THE  GALLANT  ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  THE  HEROIC 
CAPTAIN  THOMAS  BOYLE,  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  BRIG  CHAS 
SEUR,  OF  BALTIMORE,  ON  HIS  LAST  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH 
CHANNEL,  AND  AMONG  THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS,  IN  THE 
WINTERS  OF  1814  AND  1815. 

The  Chasseur  was  a  very  formidable  vessel,  carrying 
sixteen  long  twelve  pounders,  and  at  the  commencement 
of  a  cruise  her  crew  probably  amounted  to  one  hundred 
men,  including  officers,  seamen,  and  marines. 

Here  follows  a  list  of  prizes  made  by  this  distinguished 
commander.  This  list  is  a  portion  (by  no  means  all) 
of  his  captures,  during  a  period  of  three  months. 

Sloop  Christiana,  of  Kilkadee,  Scotland,  made  a  cartel 
of  her,  to  disembarrass  him  from  prisoners 

Brie;  Reindeer,  of  Aberdeen,  from  the  Island  of  Lari- 

O 

zarote  for  London,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  and  barrilla  ; 
manned  her  for  the  United  States. 

Schooner  Favorite,  also  from  Lanzarote,  bound  for 
London,  with  a  similar  cargo. 

Brig  Marquis    of  Cornwallis,   from    the   same   island, 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  359 

bound  also  for  London.  This  vessel,  being  of  small 
value,  was  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

English  brig  Alert,  of  Poole,  from  Newfoundland, 
with  a  cargo  of  timber,  taken  and  destroyed. 

Brig  Harmony,  of  Aberdeen,  from  Newfoundland, 
bound  for  London,  made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  be  relieved 
from  prisoners. 

Ship  Carlbury,  of  London,  from  Jamaica,  with  a  very 
valuable  cargo  of  cotton,  cocoa,  hides,  indigo,  etc., 
divested  her  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ceroons  of 
indigo,  and  manned  her  for  the  United  States.  The 
goods  taken  from  this  prize  were  estimated  at  fifty  thou 
sand  dollars. 

Brig  Eclipse,  a  valuable  vessel  of  fourteen  guns,  sent 
to  New  York,  at  which  place  she  arrived  safe. 

Brig  Commerce,  also  a  valuable  vessel,  laden  with  fish, 
ordered  her  to  proceed  to  the  United  States. 

Brig  Antelope,  carrying  eight  eighteen  pound  carron- 
nades,  with  a  long  torn,  from  Havana,  laden  with  nine 
hundred  boxes  of  sugar ;  she  made  no  resistance,  and 
was  also  sent  to  the  United  States. 

British  schooner  Fox  from  Newfoundland,  laden  with 
fish  for  the  Mediterranean,  sent  her  to  the  United 
States. 

Ship  James,  of  London,  with  twelve  guns  and  twenty 
men  from  the  fiver  La  Plata,  with  hides,  tallow,  bark, 
furs,  etc. 

Brig  Atlantic,  also  of  London,  with  eight  guns  and 
fifteen  men,  from  the  river  La  Plata,  loaded  with  a 
similar  cargo.  The  James  and  the  Atlantic  were  in 
company,  and  were  both  captured  and  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

Ship  Theodore,  of  Liverpool,  with  eight  guns,. from 
Marenham.  with  1,600  bales  of  cotton,  etc.,  etc. 


360  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Brig  Amicus  of  Liverpool,  from  Lisbon,  with  wool, 
fruit,  and  two  bales  of  woollen  goods. 

Besides  the  vessels  already  enumerated  there  were 
others,  whose  names  are  not  noticed  in  this  list.  The 
whole  number  of  vessels  captured  by  Captain  Boyle,  on 
this  cruise,  was  eighteen,  and  many  of  them  very  valua 
ble.  Captain  B.  brought  into  port  forty-three  prisoners, 
and  paroled  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Had  the  Chasseur 
been  a  United  States  vessel,  acting  under  orders  to  burn, 
sink,  and  destroy  all  prizes,  the  loss  to  the  enemy  by 
this  brig  alone,  would  have  exceeded  a  million  and  a 
half  of  dollars.  Although  •  many  of  these  prizes  were 
probably  re-captured,  still  the  Chasseur  must  have  made 
a  very  profitable  cruise,  for  all  who  were  concerned  in 
this  very  fortunate  privateer. 

During  Captain  Boyle's  cruise  in  the  British  Channel 
and  around  the  coast  of  Great  Britain,  he  had  many  hair 
breadth  escapes.  He  was  once  so  near  a  frigate  as  par 
tially  to  exchange  broadsides  with  her.  At  another 
time  he  was  nearly  surrounded  by  two  frigates  and  two 
brigs-of-war,  and,  in  hauling  off  to  avoid  them,  one  of 
the  frigates  threw  a  shot  on  board  of  his  brig,  and 
wounded  three  men  ;  he,  however,  at  length  made  his 
escape,  and  out-manoeuvred  and  out-sailed  them  all. 

At  this  period,  it  was  the  general  custom  for  the  Brit 
ish  admirals  on  our  coast*to  issue  what  the  Americans 
called  paper-blockades,  declaring  nearly  the  whole  coast 
of  North  America  in  a  strict  state  of  blockade,  which,  to 
have  done  effectually,  would  have  required  all  the  ships 
in  the  world.  Several  of  these  blockade-proclamations 
had  recently  been  issued  by  Admiral  Sir  John  Borlaise 
Warren  and  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane. 

As  a  burlesque  on  these  paper-blockades,  Captain 
Bovle.  while  in  the  British  Channel,  issued  the  follow- 


1815.]  THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  361 

ing  proclamation,  and  sent  it  by  a  cartel  to  London, 
with  a  request  to  have  it  posted  up  at  Loyd's  Coffee 
House  : 


By  Thomas  Boyle,  Esquire,  Commander  of  the  private- 
armed  brig  Chasseur,  etc.,  etc. 

PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas  it  has  become  customary  with  the  Admirals 
of  Great  Britain,  commanding  small  forces  on  the  coast 
of  the  United  States,  particularly  with  Sir  John  Borlaise 
Warren  and  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  to  declare  all  the 
coast  of  the  said  United  States  in^a  state  of  strict  and 
rigorous  blockade,  without  possessing  the  power  to  jus 
tify  such  a  declaration,  or  stationing  an  adequate  force 
to  maintain  said  blockade. 

I  do,  therefore,  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority 
in  me  vested  (possessing  sufficient  force),  declare  all  the 
ports,  harbors,  bays,  creeks,  rivers,  inlets,  outlets,  islands 
and  sea  coast  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  in  a  state  of  strict  and  rigorous  blockade. 

And  I  do  further  declare,  that  I  consider  the  force 
under  my  command  adequate  to  maintain  strictly,  rigor 
ously  and  effectually,  the  said  blockade. 

And  I  do  hereby  require  the  respective  officers, 
whether  captains,  commanders,  or  commanding  officers, 
under  my  command,  employed  or  to  be  employed,  on 
the  coasts  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland,  to  pay 
strict  attention  to  the  execution  of  this  my  proclama 
tion. 

And  I  do  hereby  caution  and  forbid  the  ships  and  ves 
sels  of  all  and  every  nation,  in  amity  and  peace  with  the 
United  States,  from  entering  or  attempting  to  enter,  or 
from  coming  or  attempting  to  come  out  of  any  of  the 


362  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [181/>. 

said  ports,  harbors,  bays,  creeks,  rivers,  inlets,  outlets, 
islands,  or  sea  coast,  under  any  pretence  whatsoever. 

And  that  no  person  may  plead  ignorance  of  this,  my 
proclamation,  I  have  ordered  the  same  to  be  made  public 
in  England. 

Given  under  my  hand  on  board  the  Chasseur,  day  and 
elate  as  above. 

THOMAS  BOYLE. 

(By  command  of  the  commanding  officer.) 

J.  J.  STANBURY,  Secretary.. 


LETTER  FROM  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  TO  MR.  GEORGE  P.  STEPHENSON,  ONE 
OF  THE  OWNERS  OF  THE  CHASSEUR. 

At  Sea,  March  2d,  1815. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  on 
the  26th  of  February,  being  about  six  leagues  to  wind 
ward  of  Havana,  and  two  leagues  from  the  land,  at  11 
A.  M.  discovered  a  schooner  bearing  N.E.  of  us,  appa 
rently  running  before  the  wind  ;  made  every  possible 
sail  in  chase,  the  convoy  in  sight  from  the  mast  head,  to 
leeward,  laying-to  off  Havana.  At  meridian,  gaining 
fast  on  the  chase,  which  appeared  to  be  a  large,  long, 
low  pilot  boat  built  schooner,  with  yellow  sides  ;  she 
hauled  up  more  to  the  northward,  and  apparently  was 
endeavoring  to  escape  us.  At  half-past  12  meridian,  I 
fired  a  gun,  and  hoisted  the  American  flag,  to  ascertain, 
if  possible,  to  what  nation  the  schooner  belonged  ;  but 
she  showed  no  colors,  was  carrying  a  press  of  sail,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  carried  away  her  fore-top-mast.  She  was 
at  this  time  about  three  miles  from  us.  They  cut  away 
the  wreck  of  the  top-mast  immediately,  and  trimmed  her 
sails  sharp  by  the  wind.  At  1  p.  M.  drawing  up  with 
her  very  fast ;  she  fired  a  stern  chase  gun  at  us,  and 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  363 

hoisted  English  colors,  showing  at  the  same  time  only 
three  ports  on  the  side  next  us. 

Under  the  impression  that  she  was  a  running  vessel, 
bound  to  Havana,  arid  weakly  armed  and  manned,  I  tried 
every  effort  to  close  with  her  as  quick  as  possible.  I  saw 
very  few  men  on  her  deck,  and  hastily  made  some  pre 
paration  for  action,  though  neither  my  officers  nor  my 
self  expected  any  fighting  ;  of  course  we  were  not  com 
pletely  prepared  for  battle.  At  1:26  P.M.  we  were  within 
pistol  shot  of  the  enemy,  when  he  opened  a  tier  of  ten 
ports  on  a  side,  and  gave  us  his  whole  broadside  of 
round,  grape,  and  musket  balls.  I  then  opened  the 
Chasseur's  fire  from  the  great  guns  and  musketry,  and 
endeavored  to  close  with  him,  for  the  purpose  of  board 
ing  ;  we  having  quick  way  at  the  time,  shot  ahead  of 
him  under  his  lea,  he  put  his  helm  up,  for  the  purpose  of 
wearing  across  our  stern,  to  give  -us  a  raking  fire,  which 
I  prevented  by  timely  noticing  his  intention,  and  putting 
our  helm  hard  up  also.  He  shot  quickly  ahead,  and  I 
closed  within  ten  yards  of  him.  At  this  time  both  fires 
were  heavy,  severe,  and  destructive.  I  now  found  that 
his  men  had  been  concealed  under  his  bulwark,  and  that 
I  had  a  powerful  enemy  to  contend  with,  and  at  1:40  P.M., 
gave  the  order  for  boarding,  which  my  brave  officers  and 
men  cheerfully  obeyed  with  unexampled  quickness  ;  I 
instantly  put  the  helm  to  starboard  to  lay  him  on  board, 
and  when  in  the  act  of  boarding  she  surrendered. 

Mr.  W.  M.  Christie,  prize-master,  from  his  courage  and 
activity,  got  first  on  board  of  her — she  proved  to  be  his 
Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  J.  C.  Gordon,  formerly  the  famous  priva 
teer  Atlas,  of  Philadelphia,  built  on  the  Chesapeake, 
mounting  15  guns,  14  twelve  pound  carronades,  upon  an 
improved  construction,  and  a  long  nine  pounder,  with  a 


364  THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

complement  of  75  men,  and  had  on  board  a  number  of 
soldiers,  marines,  and  some  gentlemen  of  the  navy,  pas 
sengers,  bound  express  to  the  squadron  off  New  Or 
leans.  She  had,  by  the  report  of  her  commander,  6 
men  killed  and  17  wounded,  most  of  them  badly,  and 
several  of  them  mortally.  She  was  a  perfect  wreck,  cut 
to  pieces  in  the  hull,  and  scarcely  a  rope  left  standing, 
and  by  report  of  her  commander,  he  had  not  an  officer 
on  board,  that  was  not  either  killed  or  wounded,  him 
self  among  the  latter.  The  Chasseur's  sails  and  rigging 
suffered  much,  and  from  the  zeal  and  anxiety  of  my 
'brave  crew  to  do  their  duty,  and  thereby  exposing  them 
selves,  I  had  five  men  killed,  and  eight  wounded,  myself 
among  the  latter,  though  very  slightly.  Thus  ended 
the  action,  in  fifteen  minutes  after  its  commencement, 
and  about  eight  minutes  close  quarters,  with  a  force,  in 
every  respect,  equal  to  our  own. 

The  Chasseur  mounted  six  twelve  pounders,  and  eight 
short  nine  pound  carronades  (the  latter  taken  from  one 
of  our  prizes),  ten  of  our  twelve  pound  carronades  hav 
ing  been  thrown  overboard,  while  hard  chased  by  the 
Barosa  frigate.  The  St.  Lawrence  had  on  board  89 
men,  beside  several  boys. 

From  the  number  of  hammocks,  bedding,  etc.,  etc., 
found  on  board  of  the  enemy,  it  led  us  to  believe  that 
many  more  were  killed  than  were  reported.  The  St. 
Lawrence  fired  double  the  weight  of  shot  that  we  did, 
from  her  twelves,  at  close  quarters  she  fired  a  stand  of 
grape  and  two  bags,  containing  two  hundred  and  twenty 
musket  balls  each,  when,  from  the  Chasseur's  nines, 
were  fired  six  and  four  pound  shot,  having  no  other, 
except  some  few  grape.  Were  I  to  close  this  letter 
without  mentioning  the  determined  bravery  of  my  first 
lieutenant,'  Mr.  John  Dieter,  I  should  be  acting  very  un- 


1815.] 


THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  365 


justly  to  my  own  feelings.     My  other  lieutenants,  Mr. 
Moran   and  Mr.   Hammond   N.   Stansbury,    as    well  as 
every  other  officer,  behaved  with  a  firmness,  seldom,  if 
ever  equalled,  and  I  believe  never  surpassed, 
Yours,  with  respect, 

THOMAS  BOYLE. 

Mr.  G.  P.  Stephenson,  Baltimore. 

p>  gt — On  the  night  of  the  26th  the  main-top-mast  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  went  by  the  board  ;  such  was  her 
wretched  condition,  and  from  motives  of  humanity,  and 
the  solicitation  of  her  commander,  I  made  a  flag  or  car 
tel  of  her  to  carry  the  wounded  to  Havana,  for 
their  better  comfort  and  convenience,  as  I  know  you 
would  wish  that  I  should  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the 
unfortunate  wounded.  I  hope  you  will  not  be  displeased 
at  what  I  have  done,  there  was  no  other  alternative  but 
to  make  a  cartel  of  her,  or  destroy  her.  I  should  not 
willingly  perhaps,  have  sought  a  contest  with  a  king's 
vessel,  knowing  it  was  not  our  object ;  but  my  expecta 
tions  were  at  first  a  valuable  vessel  and  a  valuable 
cargo  also.  When  I  found  myself  deceived,  the  honor 
of  the  flag  entrusted  to  my  charge,  was  not  to  be  dis 
graced  by  flight.  I  sent  to  the  wounded  a  parcel  of 
shirts,  and  two  bales  of  purser's  slops,  to  be  distributed 
among  them,  and  the  other  prisoners.  A  copy  of  the 
correspondence  between  the  Captain  of  the  St.  Law 
rence  and  myself  you  have  herewith  enclosed,  as  well  as 
my  letter  to  your  friends  in  Havana. 

Yery  respectfully  yours, 

T.  B. 


366  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 


COPY  OF  A  CERTIFICATE  TO  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  BOYLE,  FROM  THE 
COMMANDER  OF  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  ST.  LAW 
RENCE  ;  DATED  AT  SEA,  FEBRUARY  27TH,  1815,  ON  BOARD  THE 
UNITED  STATES  PRIVATE- ARMED-BRIG  CHASSEUR. 

In  the  event  of  Captain  Boyle's  becoming  a  prisoner 
of  war  to  any  British  cruiser,  I  consider  it  a  tribute 
justly  due  to  his  humane  and  generous  treatment  of 
myself,  the  surviving  officers  and  crew  of  His  Majesty's 
late  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  to  state  that  his  obliging  at 
tention  and  watchful  solicitude  to  preserve  our  effects, 
and  render  us  comfortable,  during  the  short  time  we  were 
in  his  possession,  were  such  as  justly  entitle  him  to  the 
indulgence  and  respect  of  every  British  subject. 

I  also  certify  that  his  endeavors  to  render  us  comfort 
able,  and  to  secure  our  property,  were  carefully  seconded 
by  all  his  officers,  who  did  their  utmost  to  that 
effect. 

J.  C.  GORDON, 

Lieut,  and  Com.  of  His  Majesty's  late 
Schooner  St.  Lawrence. 

"  Britannia  needs  no  bulwark, 
No  towers  along  the  steep  ; 
Her  march  is  o'er  the  mountain  waves, 
Her  home  is  on  the  deep." 

ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR. 

Captain  Boyle  arrived  in  Baltimore  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1815,  in  the  brig  Chasseur,  full  of  rich  goods, 
spoils  from  the  enemy,  after  a  successful  cruise  among 
the  Islands  in  the  West  Indies. 

On  entering  the  port,  the  Chasseur  saluted  Fort 
McHenry  in  a  handsome  style.  Her  brave  captain  and 
crew  were  welcomed  by  all  classes  of  the  commu 
nity. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  3t)7 

The  Chasseur  was  a  fine,  large  brig,  and  familiarly 
called  "  The  Pride  of  Baltimore.77  She  was  indeed  a 
fine  specimen  of  naval  architecture,  and  perhaps  the 
most  beautiful  vessel  that  ever  floated  on  the  oce"an.  She 
sat  as  light  and  buoyant  on  the  water  as  a  graceful 
swan,  and  it  required  but  very  little  help  of  the  imagin 
ation  to  feel  that  she  was  about  to  leave  her  watery  ele 
ment,  and  fly  into  the  clear,  blue  sky. 

Although  this  gallant  vessel  was  so  elegant,  and  at 
tractive  to  her  friends,  she  carried  dismay  and  terror  to 
her  enemies.  During  her  last  cruise,  only  seventeen 
days  previous  to  her  arrival  in  port,  her  heroic  com 
mander  captured  His  Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  St. 
Lawrence,  mounting  15  carriage  guns,  with  a  crew  of 
75  men. 

This  action  lasted  but  15  minutes,  when  the  English 
man  surrendered  his  vessel,  having  been  completely  cut 
to  pieces.  Fifteen  of  his  crew  were  killed,  and  25 
wounded  ;  the  Chasseur  had  but  5  men  killed,  and  8 
wounded,  and  received  little  or  no  damage  in  her 
hull. 

Her  sails  and  rigging  were  somewhat  injured,  but 
were  soon  repaired,  so  that  in  a  few  hours  she  was  ready 
for  another  action. 

The  Chasseur  made  several  other  prizes  on  this  cruise, 
which  have  been  recorded  in  their  proper  places. 

On  Captain  Boyle's  return  home  to  Baltimore,  he 
heard  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed  at  Ghent, 
by  the  Ambassadors  of  the  American  and  English  go 
vernments.  He  then  returned  to  the  peaceful  avoca 
tions  of  private  life,  to  enjoy  the  esteem  and  applause  of 
all  those  who  had  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance. 

I  cannot  conclude  my  remarks  on  Captain  Boyle's  ser 
vices  to  his  State  and  country,  without  expressing  a 


368  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

wish,  that  his  name  may  be  honored  and  cherished  by 
every  American  heart,  and  I  think  he  is  richly  entitled 
to  a  national  monument,  to  perpetuate  his  memory  to 
the  latest  generations. 

The  writer  regrets  that  he  never  had  the  pleasure  of 
a  personal  acquaintance  with  Captain  Boyle  ;  but  from 
all  he  can  learn  of  his  character,  to  sa"y  that  he  was 
a  dashing,  brave  man,  would,  in  his  case,  be  but  com 
mon-place  eulogy,  for  he  was  infinitely  more  than 
that  idea  expresses.  He  evidently  possessed  many  of 
the  elements  of  a  great  man,  for  in  him  were  blended 
the  impetuous  bravery  of  a  Murat,  with  the  prudence 
of  a  Wellington.  He  wisely  judged  when  to  attack 
the  enemy,  and  when  to  retreat,  with  honor  to  him 
self,  and  to  the  flag  under  which  he  sailed. 

The  reader  will  please  observe  his  daring  bravery 
in  cruising  in  the  British  Channel  ;  and  call  to  mind  his 
many  gallant  victories,  particularly  when  in  command  of 
the  schooner  Comet,  in  an  action  off  Pernambuco,  with 
a  large  Portuguese  man-of-war-brig  and  three  English 
merchantmen. 

They  were  all  well-armed  and  manned,  notwith 
standing  which,  Captain  Boyle  captured  the  three  British 
vessels,  and  beat  off  the  man-of-war. 

The  details  of  this  battle  may  be  found  in  the  fourth 
chapter  of  this  work. 

In  his  last  cruise  in  the  Chasseur  he  also  captured  his 
Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  of  at  least 
equal  force  with  himself. 

And  then,  reflect  on  his  prudence  in  the  management 
of  his  prizes. 

He  destroyed  the  dullest  and  poorest  of  them,  and 
sent  into  port  the  best  and  most  valuable,  after  having 
removed  the  specie,  and  all  the  most  valuable  articles 


1815.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  369 

into  his  own  vessel,  so  as  to  secure  a  successful  cruise  to 
his  owners,  and  to  all  others  concerned  in  the  enter 
prise. 

As  far  as  I  can  judge,  he  displayed  in  all  his  acts  a 
sound  judgment,  beautifully  blended  with  patriotic 
bravery. 

Had  this  gentleman  been  a  Commander  in  the  United 
States  Navy,  his  fame  and  deeds  of  valor  would  have 
been  lauded  throughout  our  great  republic  ;  but  as  he 
only  commanded  a  privateer,  who  speaks  of  him  ?  Or 
of  such  men  as  Diron,  Champlin,  Murphy,  Stafford, 
Wooster,  Ordronaux,  and  a  host  of  others,  who  fought 
and  bled  in  their  country's  cause. 

Is  it  not  then  narrow-minded  prejudice  not  to  award 
a  just  appreciation  of  the  services  of  the  gallant  men 
who  commanded  privateers  and  letters-of-marque  du 
ring  our  severe  struggle  with  England  for  an  equal  right 
to  navigate  the  ocean,  the  great  highway  of  nations. 
For  it  must  certainly  be  conceded,  that  while  contend 
ing  with  the  enemy  at  that  period,  the  privateers  and 
private  armed  vessels  formed  in  fact  a  large  portion  of 
our  navy,  and  were  an  indispensable  auxiliary  to  it, 
as  the  militia  and  volunteers  were  to  the  United 
States  army. 


24 


DOflOO 


CHAPTER    XI. 


CAPTAIN  REID'S  CRUISE — ARRIVAL  AT  FATAL — ACCOUNT  OP  HIS  GALLANT  DEFENCE — 
COPY  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL  AT  FATAL  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OP 
STATE  AT  WASHINGTON — CAPTAIN  REID'S  ARRIVAL  AT  SAVANNAH — HIS  RECEPTION  AT 
THAT  PLACE— PUBLIC  DINNER  GIVEN  HIM  AT  RICHMOND,  VA. — TOASTS,  ETC. — • 
CONTINUATION  OF  PRIZES  AFTER  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  PEACE — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRI 
VATEER-BRIG  WARRIOR  FROM  A  BRITISH  FRIGATE  AND  A  "  SEVENTY-FOUR' ' — SHE 
ARRIVES  AT  NEW  TORE — BRIG  TAGUS,  FROM  SMYRNA,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  LETTER-OF- 
MARQUE  BRUTUS,  OF  BOSTON — BRITISH  PACKET  WINDSOR  CASTLE,  FROM  FALMOUTH,  ENG 
LAND,  FOR  HALIFAX,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  ROGER  AND  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — TRANSPORT- 
SHIP  MOSELY,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  RAMBLER,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON 
—BRITISH  BRIG  BOURWAN,  FROM  PENANG,  WITH  A  VALUABLE  CARGO,  CAPTURED  BY  THE 
JACOB  JONES,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON — EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
MC  DONOUGH,  AT  MORLAIX,  FRANCE — PRIVATEERS  PREPARING  FOR  SEA,  WHEN  THE 
NEWS  OF  PEACE  ARRIVES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


CRUISE  AND  CAPTURE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER-BRIG  GENERAL  ARM 
STRONG,  SAMUEL  C.  REID,  COMMANDER. 

Captain  Reid  sailed  from  Sandy  Hook  on  the  9th  of 
September,  1814,  bound  on  a  cruise.  On  the  same 
night  after  leaving  port,  Captain  Reid  was  chased  by  a 
British  frigate,  and  a  ship  of  the  line.  He  outsailed 
them  both,  when  at  noon  the  next  day,  they  thought 
proper  to  give  up  the  chase.  On  the  llth,  two  days 
after  leaving  port,  he  boarded  the  private  armed- 
schooner  Perry,  six  days  from  Philadelphia.  The  Perry 
had  thrown  all  her  guns  overboard,  being  hard  pressed 
by  the  enemy.  The  next  day,  on  the  12th,  Captain 
Reid  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  a  British  man-of-war 
brig,  and  then  proceeded  on  his  course.  On. the  24th, 
boarded  a  Spanish  brig  and  a  schooner,  and  also  a  Por 
tuguese  ship,  all  from  Havana.  He  allowed  them  all 
to  proceed  on  their  respective  courses.  On  the  26th  of 

(370) 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  371 

September,  Captain  Reid  came  to  anchor  in  the  Fayal 
Roads,  for  the  purpose  of  filling  up  water,  and  obtaining 
refreshments.  From  this  date  I  shall  leave  the  brave 
captain  to  tell  his  own  story  ;  here  follows  the  relation 
of  that  gentleman  :— 

"  I  called  on  the  American  Consul,  who  very  politely 
ordered  our  water  immediately  sent  off,  it  being  our  in 
tention  to  proceed  to  sea  early  the  next  day.  At  5  p.  M. 
I  went  on  board,  the  Consul  and  some  other  gentlemen 
in  company.  I  asked  some  questions  concerning  the 
enemy's  cruisers,  and  was  told  there  had  been  none  at 
these  Islands  for  several  weeks,  when  about  dusk,  while 
we  were  conversing,  the  British  brig  Carnation,  sud 
denly  hove  in  sight,  close  under  the  N.E.  head  of  the 
harbor,  within  gun-shot.  When  first  discovered,  the 
idea  of  getting  under  way  was  instantly  suggested,  but 
finding  the  enemy's  brig  had  the  advantage  of  a  breeze, 
and  but  little  wind  with  us,  it  was  thought  doubtful  if 
we  should  be  able  to  get  to  sea  without  hazarding  an 
action.  I  questioned  the  Consul  to  know,  if  in  his 
opinion  the  enemy  would  regard  the  neutrality  of  the 
port  ?  He  gave  me  to  understand  I  might  make  myself 
perfectly  easy,  assuring  me  at  the  same  time,  they  would 
never  molest  us  while  at  anchor.  But  no  sooner  did  the 
enemy's  brig  understand  from  the  pilot-boat  who  we 
were,  than  she  immediately  hauled  close  in,  and  let  go 
her  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of  us.  At  the  same  mo 
ment  the  Plantagenet  and  frigate  Rota,  hove  in  sight, 
to  whom  the  Carnation  instantly  made  signals,  and  a 
constant  interchange,  took  place  for  some  time. 

"The  result  was,  the  Carnation  proceeded  to  throw  out 
all  her  boats;  dispatched  on  board  the  Commodore,  and 
appeared  otherwise  to  be  making  unusual  exertions. 
From  these  circumstances,  we  began  to  suspect  their  real 


372  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

intentions.  The  moon  was  near  its  full,  which  enabled 
us  to  observe  them  very  minutely,  and  I  now  deter 
mined  to  haul  in  nearer  the  shore. 

"  Accordingly,  after  clearing  for  action,  we  got  under 
way,  and  began  to  sweep  in.  The  moment  this  was  ob 
served  by  the  enemy's  brig,  she  instantly  cut  her  cable, 
made  sail,  arid  dispatched  four  boats  in  pursuit  of 
us.  Being  now  about  8  P.  M.,  as  soon  as  we  saw  the 
boats  approaching,  we  let  go  our  anchor,  got  springs  on 
our  cable,  and  prepared  to  receive  them.  I  hailed  them 
repeatedly  as  they  drew  near,  but  they  felt  no  inclina 
tion  to  reply.  Sure  of  their  game,  they  only  pulled  up 
with  the  greater  speed.  I  observed  the  boats  were  well 
manned,  and  apparently  as  well  armed ;  and  as  soon  as 
they  had  cleverly  got  alongside,  we  opened  our  fire, 
which  was  as  soon  returned  ;  but  meeting  with  rather  a 
warmer  reception  than  they  had  probably  been  aware 
of,  they  very  soon  cried  out  for  quarters,  and  hauled  off. 
In  this  skirmish  I  had  one  man  killed,  and  my  first  lieu 
tenant  wounded.  The  enemy's  loss  must  have  been  up 
ward  of  twenty  killed  and  wounded. 

"  They  had  now  repaired  to  their  ships  to  prepare  for 
a  more  formidable  attack.  We;  in  the  interim,  having 
taken  the  hint,  prepared  to  haul  close  into  the  beach, 
where  we  moored  head  and  stern,  within  half  pistol-shot 
of  the  castle.  This  done,  we  again  prepared,  in  the  best 
possible  manner,  for  their  second  reception. 

"About  9  P.M.  we  observed  the  enemy's  brig  towing  in 
a  large  fleet  of  boats.  They  soon  after  left  the  brig, 
and  took  their  station  in  three  divisions,  under  cover  of 
a  small  reef  of  rocks,  within  about  musket  shot  of  us. 
Here  they  continued  manoeuvring  for  some  time,  the 
brig  still  keeping  under  way  to  act  with  the  boats,  should 
we  at  any  time  attempt  our  escape. 


1815.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  373 

"The  shores  were  lined  with  the  inhabitants,  waiting 
the  expected  attack  ;  and  from  the  brightness  of  the 
moon,  they  had  a  most  favorable  view  of  the  scene.  The 
Governor,  with  most  of  the  first  people  of  the  place,  stood 
by  and  saw  the  whole  affair.  At  length,  about  midnight, 
we  observed  the  boats  in  motion  (our  crew  having  laid 
at  quarters  during  the  whole  of  this  interval).  They 
came  on  in  one  direct  line,  keeping  in  close  order,  and 
we  plainly  counted  twelve  boats.  As  soon  as  they  came 
within  proper  distance  we  opened  our  fire,  which  was 
warmly  returned  from  the  enemy's  carronades,  and 
small  arms.  The  discharge  from  our  long-torn  rather 
staggered  them ;  but  soon  reconnoitring,  they  gave 
three  cheers  and  came  on  most  spiritedly.  In  a  moment 
they  succeeded  in  gaining  our  bow  and  starboard  quar 
ter,  and  the  word  was  board.  Our  great  guns  now  be 
coming  useless,  we  attacked  them  sword  in  hand,  toge 
ther  with  our  pikes,  pistols  and  musketry,  from  which 
our  lads  poured  on  them  a  most  destructive  fire. 

"The  enemy  made  frequent  and  repeated  attempts  to 
gain  our  decks,  but  were  repulsed  at  all  times,  and  at  all 
points,  with  the  greatest  slaughter.  About  the  middle 
of  the  action.  I  received  intelligence  of  the  death  of  my 
second  lieutenant ;  and  soon  after  of  the  third  lieutenant, 
badly  wounded.  From  this  and  other  causes,  I  found 
our  fire  had  much  slackened  on  the  forecastle,  and  fear 
ful  of  the  event,  I  instantly  rallied  the  whole  of  our 
after-division,  who  had  been  Bravely  defending,  and  now 
had  succeeded  in  beating  the  boats  off  the  quarters. 
They  gave  a  shout,  rushed  forward,  opened  a  fresh  fire, 
and  soon  after  decided  the  conflict,  which  terminated  in 
the  total  defeat  of  the  enemy,  and  the  loss  of  many  of 
their  boats  ;  two  of  which  belonged  to  the  Rota,  we 
took  possession  of  them,  literally  loaded  with  their  own 


374  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

dead.  Seventeen  only  escaped  from  them  both,  who 
swam  to  the  shore.  In  another  boat,  under  our  quar 
ter,  commanded  by  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Plan- 
tagenet,  all  .were  killed  saving  four.  This  I  have  from 
the  lieutenant  himself,  who  further,  told  me  that  he 
jumped  overboard  to  save  his  own  life. 

;  The  duration  of  the  action  was  about  40  minutes. 
Our  decks  were  now  found  in  much  confusion,  our  long- 
torn  dismounted,  and  several  of  our  gun-carriages  broken ; 
many  of  our  crew  having  left  the  vessel,  and  others  dis 
abled.  Under  these  circumstances,  however,  we  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  long-torn  in  his  berth,  and  the  decks 
cleared,  in  order  for  a  fresh  action,  should  the  enemy 
attack  us  again  before  daylight. 

11  About  3  A.M.  I  received  a  message  from  the  American 
Consul,  requesting  to  see  me  on  shore,  where  he  in 
formed  me  the  Governor  had  sent  a  note  to  Captain 
Lloyd,  begging  him  to  desist  from  further  hostilities. 
To  which  Captain  Lloyd  sent  for  answer,  that  he  was 
now  determined  to  have  the  privateer  at  the  risk  of 
knocking  down  the  whole  town ;  and  that  if  the  Gover 
nor  suffered  the  Americans  to  injure  the  privateer  in  any 
manner,  he  should  consider  the  place  an  enemy's  port, 
and  treat  it  accordingly.  Finding  this  to  be  the  case,  I 
considered  all  hope  of  saving  our  vessel  to  be  at  an  end. 
I  therefore  went  on  board,  and  ordered  all  our  wounded 
and  dead  to  be  taken  on  shore,  and  the  crew  to  save 
their  effects  as  fast  as  possible.  Soon  after  this  it  became 
daylight,  when  the  enemy's  brig  stood  close  in,  and  com 
menced  a  heavy  fire  on  us  with  all  her  force.  After 
several  broadsides  she  hauled  off,  having  received  a  shot 
in  her  hull,  her  rigging  much  cut,  and  her  fore-top-mast 
wounded  (of  this  I 'was  informed  by  the  British  Consul). 
She  soon  after  came  in  again,  and  anchored  close  to  the 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  375 

privateer.  I  then  ordered  the  Gen.  Armstrong  to  be 
scuttled,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  cutting  her  off.  She 
was  soon  afterwards  boarded  by  the  enemy's  boats,  and 
set  on  fire,  which  soon  completed  her  destruction.  They 
also  destroyed  a  number  of  houses  in  the  town,  and 
wounded  some  of  the  inhabitants. 

"  By  what  I  have  been  able  to  learn  from  the  British 
Consul  and  officers  of  the  fleet,  it  appears  there  were 
about  400  officers  and  men  in  the  last  attack  by  the 
boats,  of  which  120  were  killed,  and  about  130  wounded. 
Captain  Lloyd,  I  am  told  by  the  British  Consul,  is  badly 
wounded  in  the  leg  ;  a  jury  of  surgeons  had  been  held, 
who  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  amputation  would  be 
necessary  to  insure  his  life.  7Tis  said,  however,  that 
the  wound  was  occasioned  by  an  ox  treading  on  him. 

"  The  fleet  has  remained  here  about  a  week,  during 
which  time  they  have  been  principally  employed  in 
burying  the  dead,  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded. 
Three  days  after  the  action,  they  were  joined  by  the 
ship  Thais,  and  brig  Calypso  (two  sloops  of  war),  they 
wSre  immediately  taken  into  requisition  by  Captain 
Lloyd,  to  take  home  the  wounded  men.  The  Calypso 
sailed  for  England  with  part  of  the  wounded  on  the  2d 
instant,  among  whom  was  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Plantagenet.  The  Thais  sails  this  evening  with  the 
remainder,  Captain  Lloyd's  fleet  sailed  to-day,  sup 
posed  for  the  West  Indies. 

' ;  The  loss  on  our  part,  I  am  happy  to  say,  is  compara 
tively  trifling  ;  two  killed  and  seven  wounded.  With 
regard  to  my  officers  in  general,  I  feel  the  greatest  satis 
faction  in  saying,  they  one  and  all  fought  with  the  most 
determined  bravery,  and  to  them  I  feel  highly  indebted 
for  their  officer-like  conduct,  during  the  short  period  we 


376  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

were  together  ;  their  exertions  and  bravery  deserved  a 
better  fate. 

"I  here  insert,  for  your  inspection,  a  list  of  the  killed 
and  wounded. 

"  Killed — Mr.  Alexander  0.  Williams,  second-lieuten 
ant,  by  a  musket  ball  in  the  forehead,  died  instantly  ; 
Burton  Lloyd,  seaman,  wounded  by  a  musket  ball 
through  the  heart,  died  instantly. 

"Wounded — Frederick  A.  Worth,  first  lieutenant,  in 
the  right  side  ;  Robert  Johnson,  third  lieutenant,  in  the 
left  knee  ;  Razilla  Hammond,  quarter-master,  left  arm  ; 
John  Finer,  seaman,  wounded  in  the  knee  ;  William  Cas 
tle,  in  the  arm  ;  Nicholas  Scalsan,  in  the  arm  and  leg  ; 
John  Harrison,  in  the  arm  and  face,  by  the  explosion  of 
a  gun. 

"  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  announce  to  you.  that 
our  wounded  are  all  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery,  through 
the  unremitting  care  and  attention  of  our  worthy 
surgeon. 

"  Mr.  Dabney,  our  Consul,  is  a  gentleman  possessing 
every  feeling  of  humanity,  and  to  whom  the  utmost 
gratitude  is  due  from  us  for  his  great  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  his  polite  attention  to  my  officers  and 
myself. 

"Mr.  Williams  was  a  most  deserving  and  promising 
officer.  His  country,  in  him,  has  lost  one  of  her  brightest 
ornaments,  and  his  death  must  be  sadly  lamented  by  all 
who  knew  his  worth. 

"  Accompanied  with  this,  you  will  find  a  copy  of  my 
protest,  together  with  copies  of  letters,  written  by  Mr. 
Dabney,  to  the  Governor  of  Fayal ;  our  Minister  at  Rio 
Janeiro,  and  our  Secretar}'  of  State.  These  letters  will 
develop  more  fully,  the  circumstances  of  this  unfortu- 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  377 

nate  affair.  We  expect  to  sail  to-morrow  in  a  Portu 
guese  brig  for  Amelia  Island,  which  takes  the  whole  of 
our  crew,  till  when, 

' '  I  remain,  gentlemen, 

"  Your  very  obedient,  humble  servant, 

"  SAMUEL  C.  REID." 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THE   GENERAL  ARMSTRONG. 

The  details  that  follow,  though  they  regard  only  a 
private  armed  vessel,  will  be  read  with  great  interest. 
We  are  called  as  much  to  admire  the  gallantry  and  per 
severance  of  our  seamen,  as  the  impudence  of  the  enemy 
in  violating  a  neutral  territory.  But  they  paid  dearly 
for  this  irruption  on  the  sovereignty  of  Portugal  and 
the  rights  of  hospitality.  The  vessels  that  attacked  the 
General  Armstrong,  arrived  at  Jamaica  on  the  5th  ult., 
and  acknowledged  a  loss  of  63  killed,  and  110  wounded, 
having  three  lieutenants  killed,  and  three  wounded, 
total  173.  This  is  not  the  whole  by  a  great  deal.  They 
lost  about  300,  as  the  captain  of  the  Rota  acknowledged 
to  our  Consul  that  they  had  120  men  killed,  or  dead  of 
their  wounds,  the  day  after  the  battle,  and  according  to 
the  general  scale  of  such  things,  there  must  have  been 
at  least  double  that  number  remaining  wounded.  Some 
of  the  most  splendid  victories  the  British  have  ever 
gained,  were  less  dearly  purchased.  Sir  Richard  Strachan, 
with  four  ships  of  the  line,  and  four  frigates,  fought  a 
French  fleet  for  several  hours,  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1805,  and  captured  four  ships  of  74  and  80  guns,  with  a 
loss  of  only  135  killed  and  wounded — less  according  to 
his  account  than  by  the  British  accounts  of  the  attack 
on  the  Armstrong,  they  lost  in  capturing  a  privateer, 
hemmed  up  in  a  port.  A  few  such  victories  as  this, 
would  teach  them  better  manners. 


378  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

The  Court  of  Portugal  is  bound  to  pay  for  the  priva 
teer,  and  receive  satisfaction  for  the  outrage  from  that 
of  Great  Britain. 


COPY  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  OUR  CONSUL  AT  FATAL  TO  THE  SECRE 
TARY  OF  STATE. 

FAYAL,  5th  October,  1814. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  state  to  you,  that  a  most 
outrageous  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  this  port,  in  ut 
ter  contempt  of  the  laws  of  civilized  nations,  has  recently 
been  committed  here  by  the  commanders  of  His  Britan 
nic  Majesty's  ships,  Plantagenet,  Rota  and  Carnation, 
against  the  private  armed  brig  General  Armstrong, 
Samuel  C.  Reid  commander  ;  but  I  have  great  satisfac 
tion  in  being  able  to  add  that  this  occurrence  terminated 
in  one  of  the  most  brilliant  actions  on  the  part  of  Cap 
tain  Reid,  his  brave  officers  and  crew,  that  can  be  found 
on  naval  record. 

The  American  brig  came  to  anchor  in  this  port  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  26th  of  September,  and  at  sun 
set  of  the  same  day,  the  above  named  ships  suddenly 
appeared  in  these  roads  ;  it  being  nearly  calm  in  this 
port,  it  was  rather  doubtful  if  the  privateer  could  escape, 
if  she  got  under  way,  and  relying  on  the  justice  and 
good  faith  of  the  British  captains,  it  was  deemed  most 
prudent  to  remain  at  anchor. 

A  little  after  dusk,  Captain  Reid,  seeing  some  sus 
picious  movements  on  the  part  of  the  British,  began  to 
warp  his  vessel  close  under  the  guns  of  the  castle,  and 
while  doing  so,  he  was,  at  about  8  o'clock  p.  M.,  ap 
proached  by  four  boats  from  the  ships,  filled  with  armed 
men.  After  hailing  them  repeatedly,  and  warning  them 
to  keep  off,  he  ordered  his  men  to  fire  on  them,  and 
killed  and  wounded  several  men.  The  boats  returned 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  379 

the  fire,  killed  one  man,  and  wounded  the  first  lieuten 
ant  of  the  privateer,  and  returned  to  their  ships  ;  and, 
as  it  was  now  bright  moonlight,  it  was  plainly  perceived 
from  the  brig,  as  well  as  from  the  shore,  that  a  formid 
able  attack  was  premeditating. 

Soon  after  midnight,  twelve  or  more  large  boats,  crowd 
ed  with  men  from  the  ships,  and  armed  with  carronades, 
swivels,  blunderbusses,  small  arms,  etc.,  attacked  the 
brig.  A  severe  contest  ensued,  which  lasted  about  forty 
minutes,  and  ended  in  the  total  defeat,  and  partial  de 
struction  of  the  boats,  with  a  most  unparalleled  carnage 
on  the  part  of  the  British. 

It  is  estimated,  by  good  judges,  that  near  four  hun 
dred  men  were  in  the  boats  when  the  attack  commenced,] 
and  no  doubt  exists  in  the  minds  of  the  numerous  spec 
tators  of  the  scene,  that  more  than  one  half  of  them 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Several  boats  were  destroyed  ; 
two  of  them  remained  along  side  of  the  brig,  literally 
loaded  with  their  own  dead.  From  these  two  boats,  only 
seventeen  men  reached  the  shore  alive  ;  most  of  them 
were  severely  wounded. 

The  whole  of  the  following  day,  the  British  were  oc 
cupied  in  burying  their  dead  ;  among  them  were  two 
lieutenants  and  one  midshipman,  of  the  Rota  ;  the  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Plantagenet,  it  is  said,  cannot  survive 
his  wounds,  and  many  of  the  seamen  who  reached  the 
ships  were  mortally  wounded,  and  have  been  dying  daily. 

The  British,  mortified  at  this  signal  and  unexpected 
defeat,  endeavored  to  conceal  the  extent  of  their  loss. 
They  admit,  however,  that  they  have  lost  in  killed,  and 
who  have  died  since  the  engagement,  upward  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  of  the  flower  of  their  officers  and 
men.  The  captain  of  the  Rota  told  me  he  lost  seventy 
men  from  his  ship. 


380  T.HE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Two  days  after  this  affair  took  place,  two  British 
sloops-of-war,  Thais  and  Calypso,  came  into  port,  which 
Captain  Lloyd  immediately  took  into  requisition  to  carry 
home  the  wounded  officers  and  seamen.  They  have 
sailed  for  England — one  on  the  2nd,  and  the  other  on 
the  4th  instant ;  each  carried  twenty-five  men,  badly 
wounded.  Those  who  were  slightly  wounded,  to  the  num 
ber,  as  I  am  informed,  of  about  thirty,  remained  on  board 
their  respective  ships,  and  sailed  last  evening  for  Jamaica. 

Strict  orders  were  given  that  the  sloops-of-war 
should  take  no  letters  whatever  to  England,  and  those 
orders  were  rigidly  adhered  to.  In  face  of  the  testi 
mony  of  all  Fayal,  and  a  number  of  respectable  stran 
gers  who  happened  to  be  in  this  place  at  the  moment, 
the  British  commander  endeavors  to  throw  the  odium 
of  this  transaction  on  the  American  Captain  Reid,  al 
leging  that  he  sent  the  boats  merely  to  reconnoitre  the 
brig,  and  without  any  hostile  intentions  ;  the  pilots  of  the 
port  did  inform  them  of  the  privateer  the  moment  they 
entered  the  port.  To  reconnoitre  an  enemy's  vessel,  in 
a  friendly  port,  at  night,  with  four  boats,  carrying,  by 
the  best  accounts,  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  is  cer 
tainly  a  strange  proceeding  !  The  fact  is,  they  expected, 
as  the  brig  was  warping  in,  that  the  Americans  would 
not  be  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  they  had  hopes  of 
carrying  her  by  a  "  coup  de  main."  If  anything  could 
add  to  the  baseness  of  this  transaction,  on  the  part  of 
the  British  commander,  it  is  the  want  of  candor,  openly 
and  boldly  to  avow  the  facts.  In  vain  can  he  expect, 
by  such  subterfuge,  to  shield  himself  from  the  indigna 
tion  of  the  world,  and  the  merited  resentment  of  his 
own  government  and  nation,  for  thus  trampling  on  the 
sovereignty  of  their  most  ancient  and  faithful  ally,  and 
for  the  wanton  sacrifice  of  British  lives. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  381 

On  the  part  of  the  Americans,  the  loss  was  compara 
tively  nothing  •  two  killed  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 
Of  the  slain,  we  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  second 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Alexander  0.  Williams,  of  New  York  j  a 
brave  and  meritorious  officer. 

Among  the  wounded,  are  Messrs.  Worth  and  John 
son,  first  and  third  lieutenants.  Captain  Reid  was  thus 
deprived,  early  in  the  action,  of  the  services  of  all  his 
lieutenants  ;  but  his  cool  and  intrepid  conduct  secured 
him  the  victory. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  ult.,  one  of  the  British 
ships  placed  herself  near  the  shore,  and  commenced  a 
heavy  cannonade  on  the  privateer.  Finding  further  re 
sistance  unavailing.  Captain  Reid  ordered  her  to  be 
abandoned,  after  being  partially  destroyed,  to  prevent  her 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  soon 
after  sent  their  boats  and  set  her  on  fire. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  (soon  after  the  first 
attack),  I  applied  to  the  Governor,  requesting  his  Ex 
cellency  to  protect  the  privateer,  either  by  force,  or  by 
such  remonstrance  to  the  commander  of  the  squadron, 
as  would  cause  him  to  desist  from  any  further  attempt. 

The  Governor,  feeling  indignant  at  what  had  passed, 
but  feeling  himself  totally  unable,  with  the  slender 
means  he  possessed,  to  resist  such  a  force,  took  the  part 
of  remonstrating,  which  he  did  in  forcible,  but  respectful 
terms. 

His  letter  to  Captain  Lloyd  had  no  other  effect 
than  to  produce  a  menacing  reply,  insulting  in  the  high 
est  degree.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  indignation  of  the 
public  authorities,  as  well  as  of  all  ranks  and  descriptions 
of  persons  here,  at  this  unprovoked  enormity.  Such  was 
the  rage  of  the  British  to  destroy  this  vessel,  that  no 
regard  was  paid  to  the  safety  of  the  town.  Some  of  the 


382  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

inhabitants  were  wounded,  and  a  number  of  the  houses 
were  much  damaged.  The  strongest  representations  on 
this  subject  were  prepared  by  the  Governor  for  his  court. 
Since  this  affair,  the  commander,  Lloyd,  threatened  to 
send  on  shore  an  armed  force,  and  arrest  the  privateer's 
crew,  saying  there  were  many  Englishmen  among  them, 
and  our  poor  fellows,  afraid  of  his  vengeance,  have  fled 
into  the  mountains  several  times,  and  have  been  har 
assed  extremely. 

At  length,  Captain  Lloyd,  fearful  of  losing  more  men, 
if  he  put  his  threats  in  execution,  adopted  this  strata 
gem  :  He  addressed  an  official  letter  to  the  Governor, 
stating  that  in  the  American  crew  were  two  men  who 
deserted  from  his  squadron  in  America,  and  as  they 
were  guilty  of  high  treason,  he  required  them  to  be 
found  and  given  up.  Accordingly,  a  force  was  sent  into 
the  country,  and  the  American  seamen  were  arrested 
and  brought  to  town,  and  as  they  could  not  designate 
the  said  pretended  deserters,  all  the  seamen  here  passed 
an  examination  of  the  British  officers,  but  no  such  per 
sons  could  be  found  among  them. 

I  was  requested  by  the  Governor  and  British  Consul 
to  attend  this  humiliating  examination,  as  was  also  Cap 
tain  Reid,  but  we  declined  to  sanction  by  our  presence 
any  such  proceedings. 

Captain  Reid  has  protested  against  the  British  com 
manders  of  the  squadron,  for  the  unwarrantable  de 
struction  of  his  vessel  in  a  neutral  and  friendly  port,  as 
also  against  the  government  of  Portugal,  for  their  in 
ability  to  protect  him. 

No  doubt  this  Government  will  feel  themselves  bound 
to  make  ample  indemnification  to  the  owners,  officers 
and  crew  of  this  vessel,  for  the  great  loss  they  have  sev 
erally  sustained. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  383 

I  shall,  as  early  as  possible,  transmit  a  statement  of 
this  transaction  to  our  Minister  at  Rio  Janeiro  for  his 
government. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect, 
Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant. 

JOHJST  B.  DABNEY. 


HONOR  TO  THE  BRAVE. 

On  Captain  Reid's  arrival  at  Savannah  from  FayalT 
he  was  treated  with  great  respect  and  kindness  by  all 
classes  of  people. 

On  his  way  home  to  New  York,  he  was  invited*  and 
partook  of  a  splendid  public  entertainment  at  Richmond, 
Virginia.  The  company  was  very  numerous,  and 
among  them,  the  Governor,  and  others  of  the  first 
character  in  Virginia.  The  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Del- 
gates  (Mr.  Stevenson),  President,  and  the  members  of 
the  Legislature  constituted  a  large  portion  of  the  enter 
tainers.  The  toasts  were  highly  characteristic  of  gener 
ous  Virginia.  We  select  the  following  : 

"  The  Navy — whose  lightning  has  struck  down  the 
'meteor  flag  of  England.7  They  have  conquered  those 
who  had  conquered  the  world." 

"  The  private  cruisers  of  the  United  States — whose 
intrepidity  has  pierced  the  enemy's  channels,  and  bearded 
the  lion  in  his  den.77 

"  The  army  of  the  Niagara,  the  rivals  of  our  seamen — 
their  gallant  deeds  will  live  to  endless  ages,  in  the  re 
cords  of  time.7' 

"  Brown,  Scott  Gaines  and  Porter — Chippewa,  Bridge- 
water,  Plattsburg  and  Erie,  are  the  deathless  monuments 
of  their  fame.77 

"Barney,    Boyle,    and  their  compatriots — who  have 


384  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

ploughed  the  seas  in  search  of  the  enemy,  and  hurled 
retaliation  upon  his  head." 

"  Our  Ministers  at  Ghent — who  breathe  the  spirit  of 
their  country,  war  in  preference  to  the  slightest  sacrifice 
of  honor." 

"  Foreign  Nations — let  us  hold  them  as  did  our 
fathers,  '  enemies  in  war  ;  in  peace  friends.7  ' 

"Legislators — may  the  people  abandon 'those  who 
sacrifice  the  safety  of  their  country  to  the  shadow  of 
popularity.' ' 

"Volunteers" — by  the  Vice-President,  Mr.Wirt — "the 
memory  of  the  General  Armstrong  ;  she  has  l  graced  her 
fall,*and  made  her  ruin  glorious.' " 

"  By  Judge  Cabell— The  Spirit  of  our  fore-fathers,  dis 
played  in  concert  and  energy  of  action  ;  not  wasted  in 
endless  and  fruitless  discussion." 

"  By  Judge  Brockenborough — Neutral  Ports — when 
ever  the  tyrants  of  the  ocean  dare  to  invade  these 
sanctuaries,  may  they  meet  with  an  '  Essex'  and  an 
'  Armstrong.' ' 

"  By  Gen.  Cocke — American  seamen — their  achieve 
ments  form  an  era  in  the  naval  annals  of  the  world  ; 
may  their  brother  soldiers  emulate  their  deeds  of  ever 
lasting  renown." 

On  Captain  Reid's  retiring:  "By  the  President — 
Captain  Reid — his  valor  has  shed  a  blaze  of  renown 
upon  the  character  of  our  seamen,  and  won  for  himself 
a  laurelof  eternal  bloom."  . 

CONTINUATION  OF  PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS  AND  LET- 
TERS-OF-MARQUE,  AFTER  THE  TREATY  OF  PEACE  WAS  SIGNED 
THOUGH  UNKNOWN  AT  THAT  TIME,  TO  EITHER  OF  THE  BELLIG 
ERENT  PARTIES. 

The  privateer  Warrior,  of  New  York,  captured  tho 
following  British  vessels  : 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  385 

Brig  Hope,  from  Glasgow  for  Buenos  Ayres,  divested 
of  a  large  quantity  of  English  goods,  and  manned  for 
the  United  States. 

Ship  Francis  and  Eliza,  burthen  377  tons  with  ten 
guns  and  thirty-five  men,  from  London  bound  for  New 
South  Wales.  This  ship  had -on  board  124  male  and 
female  convicts.  After  divesting  her  of  sundry  articles 
of  merchandise,  the  privateer  allowed  her  to  proceed  on 
her  voyage. 

The  British  ship  Neptune,  259  tons  burthen,  8  guns 
and  fifteen  men,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Salvador,  with  a 
cargo  of  British  goods.  The  Warrior  removed  from  her 
the  most  valuable  portion  of  her  cargo,  and  sent  her  to 
the  United  States. 

Brig  Dundee,  of  Dundee,  from  London  also  for  St. 
Salvador,  with  British  goods  to  a  large  amount.  After 
removing  to  the  privateer  a  large  quantity  of  valuable 
goods,  manned  her  for  New  York. 

After  the  Warrior  had  taken  out  of  her  prizes  323 
bales  and  packages  of  English  goods,  and  fifteen  thou 
sand  dollars  in  specie,  she  made  sail  for  New  York,  at 
which  port  she  safely  arrived. 

During  the  cruise,  she  was  often  chased  by  frigates, 
and  received  several  shot  from  one  of  them.  She  was 
at  another  time  so  hotly  pursued  by  an  English  74,  that 
in  passing  she  received  several  of  her  shot,  but  finally 
made  her  escape  with  but  little  injury.  The  Warrior  was 
a  beautiful  brig  of  430  tons  burthen,  built  on  the  pilot 
boat  construction,  mounted  21  guns,  and  carried 
150  men. 

The  privateer    Mammoth,  of  Baltimore,  returned  to 

New  York  after  a  long  and  unprofitable  cruise,  without 

making  any  captures.     She  was  several  times  chased  by 

British  frigates,  but  fortunately  escaped.     During  her 

25 


386  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

cruise,  in   a    calm,  she   was   attacked  by  several  of  the 
enemy's  boats,  but  beat  them  off  without  loss  to  herself. 

The  privateer  Ludlow  returned  to  Portsmouth,  after  a 
cruise  of  56  days,  without  making  a  single  capture. 

It  would  appear  by  this  that  British  ships  and  vessels 
had  become  somewhat  scarce  on  the  ocean,  as  our  priva 
teers  returned  with  but  very  few  prizes. 

The  letter-of-marque  Brutus,  of  Boston,  made  the 
following  captures  : 

Ship  Adventure,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  British 
merchandise  ;  divested  her  of  the  most  valuable  portion 
of  it,  and  destroyed  the  vessel. 

Schooner  Margaretta,  with  a  small  assorted  cargo  of  not 
jnuch  value.  Removed  the  same  to  the  privateer,  and 
made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Transport  brig  Guardiana,  from  Halifax  for  Plymouth, 
Eng.,  4  guns  and  15  men.  Divested  her  of  all  her 
cargo  worth  removing,  and  made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  dis 
pose  of  the  prisoners. 

Brig  Phoebe,  from  Malta  for  London,  with  an  assorted 
cargo.  Divested  her  of  a  portion  of  her  valuable  goods, 
and  manned  her  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  Tagus,  from  Smyrna  for  London,  mounting  four 
guns,  with  15  men.  This  was  a  very  valuable  prize,  said 
to  be  worth  $400,000.  The  Brutus  removed  from  this 
vessel  143  bales  of  silk,  and  then  manned  and  ordered 
her  to  proceed  to  Boston,  at  which  port  she  fortunately 
arrived. 

Beside  the  before  enumerated  prizes,  the  Brutus  also 
captured  on  this  cruise,  the  British  ship  Albion,  from 
London  bound  for  Bermuda.  Thrs  ship  was  365  tons 
burthen,  with  eight  guns  and  fifteen  men.  Her  cargo 
was  valued  at  $200, 000.  She  was  manned  and  ordered 
to  proceed  to  a  port  in  the  LTnited  States. 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  387 

British  schooner  Victoria,  laden  with  crates,  oil,  and 
sundry  British  goods,  was  also  captured  by  the  Brutus, 
and  ordered  to  proceed  to  Charleston. 

After  the  Brutus  had  taken  and  manned  all  the  before 
named  prizes,  she  made  sail  for  Boston,  at  which  port 
she  arrived,  laden  with  a  very  valuable  cargo  of  silks 
and  other  rich  goods,  taken  from  the  enemy. 

British  schooner,  name  not  given,  from  Halifax  for 
Barbadoes,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  was  captured  by  the 
Avon,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Fort  Royal,  Martinique, 
and  was  there  ransomed  for  her  former  owners. 

British  Brig  Success,  from  Cadiz  for  Newfoundland, 
laden  with  salt,  and  fruit,  etc..  was  captured  by  the 
Blakely,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

British  brig  Jubilee,  from  St.  Ubes  for  Ireland,  with 
salt,  etc.,  was  also  captured  by  the  Blakely.  Divested 
the  prize  of  a  portion  of  her  cargo,  and  then  destroyed  her. 

The  British  schooner  Thistle,  from  the  Mediterranean, 
with  a  valuable  cargo,  was  captured  by  the  America  of 
Salem,  on  her  last  cruise.  This  prize  was  recaptured  by 
the  British  sloop  of  war  Cossack,  off  Cape  Sable,  on  the 
19th  of  March,  and  sent  to  Halifax,  but  was  subsequent 
ly  restored  to  the  American  captors,  according  to  the 
treaty  regulations,  between  the  two  governments  on  that 
subject. 

English  Brig  Ocean,  with  8  guns,  and  15  men,  from 
Sicily  for  St.  Petersburg,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  was 
captured  by  the  Macedonian,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into 
Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

British  packet  Windsor  Castle,  armed  with  8  carro- 
nades,  and  2  long  brass  nine  pounders,  with  32  men,  and 
nine  passengers  from  Falmouth,  Eng.,  for  Halifax,  with 
five  mails,  was  captured  by  the  privateer  Roger,-  of  Nor 
folk  and  sent  into  that  port. 


388  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

British  schooner  Fanny,  with  nine  guns  from  Laguira, 
for  London,  was  captured  by  the  Lawrence  of  Balti 
more,  and  ordered  into  a  port  in  the  United  States,  but 
in  consequence  of  bad  weather,  she  put  into  Cuba  to 
refit,  being  in  distress. 

British  schooner,  name  not  given,  from  Fayal  for  St. 
Michael,  captured  by  the  Macedonian  of  Boston  ;  divest 
ed  of  her  cargo,  and  permitted  to  proceed  on  her 
voyage. 

Galiot  -  — ,  under  Swedish  colors,  captured  also  by 
the  Macedonian  ;  divested  of  her  English  property,  and 
permitted  to  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

The  Macedonian  also   captured  and  burnt  the  sloop 

— ,  from  'Forway  for  Naples,  with  a  cargo  of  fish. 

The  English  ship ,  from  Newfoundland,  for  the 

Mediterranean,  was  also  captured  by  the  Macedonian 
and  burnt. 

British  brig  Acorn,  14  guns  12-pounders,  from  Liver 
pool  for  Rio  Janeiro,  with  a  full  cargo  ;  captured  by  the 
Grand  Turk  :  divested  of  a  large  portion  of  her  most  val 
uable  articles,  then  manned  and  ordered  into  a  port  in 
the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Grand  Turk,  arrived  at  Salem,  with 
$17,500  in  specie,  and  180  bales  of  English  goods,  taken 
from  sundry  British  vessels,  during  her  last  cruise. 

A  small  English  schooner,  a  tender  to  the  English 
"  74,"  Dragon,  commanded  by  a  lieutenant,  was  cap 
tured  by  the  Saranac,  of  Baltimore,  and  sunk. 

A  British  packet,  name  not  given,  was  also  captured 
by  the  Saranac,  in  the  West  Indies  and  sunk.  The  Sa 
ranac  had  returned  to  port  after  an  unsuccessful  cruise. 
She  spoke  many  neutral  vessels,  but  saw  nothing  worth 
taking  from  the  enemy. 

Galiot  Ann,  with  a  cargo  of  British  goods,  was  cap- 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  389 

tured  by  the  James  Monroe,  and  sent  into  L'Orient, 
France,  and  from  thence  was  sent  to  New  York,  at 
which  port  she  subsequently  arrived. 

British  ship  Agenoria,  from  Waterford  for  London, 
laden  with  provisions,  was  captured  by  the  McDonough, 
and  sent  into  Bricaux,  France. 

British  ship  Ashburton,  from  Lisbon  for  England,  was 
captured  by  the  James  Monroe,  divested  of  her  car 
go,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  and  allowed  to  proceed 
on  her  voyage. 

The  British  ship  Nancy,  from  Liverpool  for  Sicily,  was 
captured  by  the  Abaellino,  of  Boston,  while  cruising  in 
the  Mediterranean,  and  sent  into  Tunis. 

The  English  cutter  Joanna,  was  captured  by  the  Ma 
cedonian,  of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

British  ship  Triumvirate,  from  St.  Johns  Newfound 
land,  for  the  Mediterranean,  with  fish  and  oil,  was  also 
captured  by  the  Macedonian,  and  burnt. 

Schooner -Recovery,  captured  by  the  Macedonian,  and 
after  having  taken  sundry  articles  of  merchandise,  gave 
her  up  to  the  prisoners  as  a  cartel. 

The  privateer  G-eorge  Little,  of  Boston,  was  captured 
by  the  English  frigate  Granicus.  The  privateer  carried 
14  guns,  and  80  men,  and  had  taken  no  prizes. 

The  British  ship  Amity,  from  Waterford  for  London, 
was  captured  by  the  McDonough,  and  sent  into  Morlaix, 
France. 

The  British  schooner  Swift,  of  London,  from  St. 
Michael,  laden  with  fruit,  was  captured  by  the  America, 
and  ordered  to  proceed  to  Salem.  The  prize  being  in 
want  of  provisions,  subsequently  put  into  Terceira,  where 
she  was  demanded  by  the  British  Consul.  It  was  said 
the  Governor  of  the  Island  ordered  her  to  be  restored 
to  her  former  owners. 


390  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

Brig  Staff-of-Life,  from  Liverpool  for  Havre-de-Grace, 
with  a  valuable  assorted  cargo,  captured  by  the  McDon- 
ough,  and  sent  into  France. 

Brig  Endeavor,  from  Falmouth  for  Liverpool, 
with  barley,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to 
France. 

Brig  Ceres,  from  Cork  for  London,  with  a  full  cargo, 
captured  by  the  same  and  sent  to  France. 

Brig  Unity,  from  Waterford  for  London,  with  a  full 
cargo,  captured  by  the  McDonough,  and  sent  into 
France. 

Sloop  JEliza,  from  Dublin  for  London,  with  beef  and 
butter,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  France. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  McDONOUGH. 

"Having  put  out  all  our  men,  was  obliged  to  bear  up 
for  France,  and  arrived  at  Morlaix,  on  the  7th  of  Feb 
ruary,  1815.  February  16th,  an  English  man-of-war 
schooner  arrived  thjere,  and  anchored  within  pistol-shot 
of  our  vessel,  and  demanded  of  us  to  give  up  our  prizes  ; 
we  refused  and  being  all  ready  to  engage  her,  she  did 
not  see  fit  to  urge  the  demand." 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

British  brig  Nicholson,  of  300  tons  burthen,  mounting 
10  guns,  and  20  men,  from  Liverpool  for  "Rio  Janeiro, 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  British  goods,  was  captured  by 
the  privateer-brig  Warrior,  of  New  York,  and  sent  to 
that  port,  where  she  subsequently  arrived  safe. 

The  British  transport-ship  Mosely,  16  eighteen-pound 
carronades,  with  some  20  or  30  men,  from  Algoa  Bay  for 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  ballast ;  was  captured  by  the 
letter-of-marque  Rambler,  of  Boston,  and  after  divest- 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  391 

ing  her  of  sundry  articles  of  not  much  value,  allowed 
her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The  Rambler  was  from 
Canton,  with  a  rich  China  cargo,  and  was  fortunate 
enough  to  arrive  safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  ship  Adele,  of  Penang,  laden  with  a  valu 
able  cargo  of  India  goods,  with  a  considerable  amount 
of  gold  dust,  was  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  ship 
Jacob  Jones,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  out  to  Canton. 
After  divesting  the  prize  of  the  most  valuable  part  of 
her  cargo,  allowed  her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The 
Jacob  Jones  also  captured,  on  the  same  passage,  the 
English  brig  Bourwan,  of  Penang,  laden  with  opium 
and  other  valuable  goods.  After  removing  from  tho 
prize  the  most  valuable  portion  of  her  cargo,  allowe  1 
her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The  amount  of  property 
taken  from  these  two  vessels  was  worth  $90,000.  The 
Jacob  Jones  was  a  fine  ship  of  554  tons,  carrying  16 
guns,  and  67  men.  She  returned  to  Boston  with  a  full 
cargo  of  China  goods.  The  profits  on  her  voyage,  to 
gether  with  the  choice  spoils  taken  from  the  enemy  was, 
probably  in  the  result,  one  of  the  greatest  voyages  ever 
made  from  the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Macedonian  arrived  at  Portsmouth 
May  the  2d,  1815.  During  her  cruise  she  captured  and 
manned  three  vessels,  besides  what  have  been  before  re  - 
corded,  namely  :  brig  Margaret  and  Trevis,  with  Brit 
ish  goods  ;  ship  Somerset,  260  tons  burthen,  mounting 
4  guns  and  15  men,  laden  with  wine  and  brandy  ;  an  I 
the  brig  Mercury,  with  160  pipes  of  Oporto  wine,  and 
other  articles  of  merchandise. 

British  brig  Polly,  was  captured,  and  sent  into  Cadiz, 
by  the  privateer  Amelia,  of  Baltimore. 

British  brig  Elizabeth  (cargo  not  mentioned),  was 
captured  by  the  Leo,  of  Boston,  and  burnt. 


392  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

British  brig  George,  from  Prince  Edward's  Island,  was 
also  captured  by  the  Leo,  and  destroyed. 

Cutter  Jane,  from  St.  Michael,  for  London,  with  a 
cargo  of  fruit,  was  also  captured  by  the  same  privateer, 
and  sent  to  France. 

The  American  privateer  Sine-qua-non,  of  Boston, 
with  seven  guns  and  eighty-one  men,  was  captured  by 
the  English,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Madeira,  early  in 
February,  1815. 

British  schooner  Dunsten  Castle,  from  Alicant  for  Mar 
seilles,  with  fruit,  was  also  captured  by  the  same  priva 
teer,  and  sent  into  Tunis. 

Three  small  Maltese  vessels  (British),  with  full  car 
goes,  were  also  captured  by  the  Abaellino,  and  sent  into 
Tripoli. 

British  brig  Mary  and  Gilbert,  from  Naples  for 
Palermo,  was  captured  by  the  Abaellino,  and  ran 
somed. 

British  brig  Bernadotte,  a  Maltese  vessel,  was  cap 
tured  by  the  same  privateer,  divested  of  her  cargo,  and 
given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

The  Abaellino  permitted  several  small  Maltese  vessels 
to  escape  without  capture. 

At  the  time  peace  was  concluded  at  Ghent,  but  not 
known  in  the  United  States,  there  were  several  large 
privateers  fitting  out  of  the  different  ports  along  the  At 
lantic  board.  Among  others,  there  was  fitted,  at  Bos 
ton,  at  that  time,  and  ready  for  sea,  a  fast-sailing  ship, 
called  the  "  Charles  Morris,"  mounting  two  long-nines, 
and  8  six-pound  carronades,  with  swords,  musketry,  etc., 
and  a  complement  of  100  men,  all  told.  This  efficient 
ship  was  commanded  by  a  personal  friend  of  the  author, 
Captain  Henry  Russell,  a  native  citizen  of  Boston. 

I  have  no  doubt,   had   the  war  lasted  a  few  months 


I815-]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  393 

longer,  and  Captain  R.  been  permitted  to  go  to  sea,  that 
he  would  have  inflicted  a  severe  blow  upon  the  com 
merce  of  the  enemy. 

The  British  brig  Enterprise,  from  Buenos  Ayres, 
bound  to  England,  laden  with  hides  and  tallow,  was  cap 
tured  by  the  ship  America,  of  Salem.  The  prize  being 
leaky,  put  into  Fayal  in  distress,  where  she  was  con 
demned  as  unseaworthy.  The  cargo  was  given  in 
charge  of  the  American  Consul,  at  that  port. 

The  British  ship  Charles,  of  London,  partly  loaded 
with  oil,  from  San  Salvador,  was  captured  off  that 
port  by  the  Blakely,  of  Boston.  She  was  ordered  to 
proceed  to  the  United  States,  and  subsequently  arrived 
safe  at  Boston. 

British  brig  Sailor's  Friend  was  captured  by  the  pri 
vateer  Prince  de  Neufchatel,  and  sent  into  Havre  de 
Grace,  and  after  the  peace,  she  left  that  place,  and  ar 
rived  safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  Brig  Ann  Elizabeth,  from  Amsterdam, 
was  captured  by  the  Rattlesnake,  privateer,  and  or 
dered  to  Philadelphia,  at  which  port  she  safely  ar 
rived. 

The  British  brig  (name  not  given),  from  the  Mediterra 
nean,  bound  to  London,  with  fruit,  was  captured  by 
the  Brutus,  sent  into  Brest,  and  subsequently  arrived 
safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  schooner  Commercial  Packet,  from  Trieste 
for  London,  laden  with  fruit,  was  captured  by  the  Abael- 
lino,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Tunis. 

British  brig  Hope,  from  Pattras  for  London,  with 
fruit,  was  captured  by  the  same  privateer,  and  sent  into 
Tunis. 


394  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

CONCLUDING  REMARKS  ON  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  PRI 
VATEERS  AND  LETTERS-OF-MARQUE  ;  ALSO  ON  THE  LATE  WAR, 
AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES. 

In  the  introduction  to  my  work,  I  observed,  that  a 
war  between  two  commercial  nations  was  simply  a  trial 
which  could  do  the  other  the  greatest  harm  ;  and  now, 
the  war  being  ended,  my  readers  will  naturally  expect  to 
hear  how  the  account  stands  at  the  winding  up  of  the 
severe  conflict. 

This  I  will  endeavor  to  give  ;  but  before  I  proceed  to 
record  the  losses  on  both  sides,  it  may  be  well  to  give 
a  slight  sketch  of  the  great  disparity  of  force  em 
ployed  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  by  the  bellig 
erent  parties. 

The  English  entered  the  contest  with  a  navy  of  one 
thousand  and  sixty  men-of-war,  eight  hundred  of 
which  were  in  commission,  and  were  effective,  cruising 
ships  or  vessels. 

To  oppose  this  immense  force,  the  United  States  had 
but  seven  effective  frigates,  with  some  twelve  or  fifteen 
sloops-of-war.  Of  the  latter,  the  greater  part  were 
lying  in  the  dock-yards  repairing. 

The  war  lasted  about  three  years,  and  the  result  was. 
as  near  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  a  loss  to  Great 
Britain  of  about  two  thousand  ships  and  vessels  of 
every  description,  including  men-of-war  and  merchant 
men. 

Eighteen  hundred  "sail  are  recorded  as  having-  been 
taken,  burnt,  sunk,  or  destroyed. 

To  this  number  may  be  added  two  hundred  more, 
which  were  either  destroyed  or  considered  too  insignifi 
cant  to  be  reported  ;  making  an  aggregate  of  two 
thousand  sail  of  British  shipping  captured  by  our  lit- 


1815. j  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  395 

tie  navy,  with    the    aid    of   privateers    and    letters-of- 
marque. 

This  statement  does  not  include  captures  made  on  our 
great  lakes,  which  would  swell  the  number  to  a  much 
larger  figure. 

I  have  not  had  sufficient  time  in  giving  this  summary 
to*  ascertain,  precisely,  what  proportion  of  these  two 
thousand  vessels  were  captured  by  the  United  States 
government  ships,  but  at  a  rough  estimate,  should 
judge  one-third  part  of  the  whole  number,  leaving  two- 
thirds,  or,  say  thirteen  hundred  and  thirty  sail,  to  have 
been  taken  by  American  privateers  and  private-armed 
vessels. 

I  have  found  it  difficult  to  ascertain  the  exact  number 
of  our  own  vessels  taken  and  destroyed  by  the  English; 
but,  from  the  best  information  I  can  obtain  5  I  should 
judge  they  would  not  amount  to  more  than  five  hun 
dred  sail.  It  must  be  recollected  that  the  most  of 
our  losses  occurred  during  the  first  six  months  of 
the  war.  After  that  period,  we  had  very  few  ves 
sels  afloat,  except  privateers  and  letters- of-marque. 

A  large  portion  of  our  merchant-ships  fortunately  re 
turned  home  within  the  first  two  or  three  months  after 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  were  laid  up  out  of 
reach  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  them  were  taken  up  our 
navigable  rivers,  and  others  dismantled  in  secure 
places. 

A  few  of  our  East  Indiamen  and  whaling  ships,  the 
commanders  of  which  had  no  knowledge  of  the  war. 
were  captured  on  their  return  home,  and  not  un fre 
quently  at  the  mouths  of  our  own  harbors  ;  but,  thank 
God,  they  were  not  many. 

On  the  other  hand  our  men-of-war  and  privateers  con- 


396  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

tinued  to  harass  and  prey  upon  British  trade  and  com 
merce,  during  the  whole  period  of  the  contest,  arid  even 
after  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed. 

In  those  times  there  were  no  ocean  steamers,  to  cross 
the  Atlantic  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  nor  any  magnetic 
telegraphs  to  communicate  news  between  distant  cities. 
For  this  reason,  it  not  unfrequently  occurred  that  we 
were  without  news  from  Europe  for  a  period  of  fifty  or 
sixty  days. 

The  great  battle  of  New  Orleans  was  fought  and  won 
by-  General  Jackson,  fifteen  days  after  the  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed  at  Ghent,  So  also  the  sloop-of-war 
Penguin  was  captured,  by  Captain  Biddle,  in  the  Hor 
net,  three  months  after. 

I  have  recorded  a  long  list  of  prizes  made  by  our  pri 
vateers  and  ietters-of-marque,  that  were  cruising  in  dis 
tant  seas,  and  had  not  heard  of  the  peace. 

In  this  estimate  of  losses  by  the  belligerent  parties,,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  I  am  not  writing  a  history 
of  the  Avar,  but  simply  of  the  privateers,  and  private- 
armed  vessels,  with  the  addition  of  a  few  naval  victories 
on  the  broad  ocean,  by  the  United  States  ships-of-war. 

I  have  but  slightly  alluded  to  the  splendid  victories 
gained  by  the  United  States  vessels  over  entire  fleets  of 
the  enemy  on  our  great  Lakes. 

Neither  does  it  come  within  the  province  of  this  his 
tory  to  record  the  barbarous  transactions  of  the  English 
at  Washington,  in  their  wanton  destruction  of  that  city, 
and  many  other  acts  of  a  kindred  nature. 

Nor  shall  I  enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  the  gallant 
destruction  of  Havre-de-Grace,  Hampton,  and  many 
other  small  defenceless  villages,  by  these  modern  Goths, 
led  by  the  redoubtable  Sir  George  Cockburn,  of  famous 
inemorv.  All  these  illustrious  acts  and  deeds  have  be- 


1815.]  THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  397 

come  matters  of  history,  and  been  recorded  by  more  able 
peris  than  mine.  I  only  allude  en  passant,  to  these  me 
morable  instances  of  English  humanity,  as  evidences  of 
their  vaunted  boast  of  superior  civilization. 

Contrast  these  acts  with  those  of  the  French.  Bona 
parte,  in  his  successful  career,  over-ran  the  greater  part 
of  continental  Europe,  and  took  most  of  its  capital 
cities,  but  in  no  instance  did  he  ever  destroy  one  of 
them. 

The  English  landed  from  their  men-of-war,  made  a 
forced  march  upon  Washington  *burnt  it,  and  then  hur 
ried  back  to  their  ships. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  this  subject,  as 
it  is  familiar  to  every  intelligent  American. 

My  object  in  referring  to  these  by-gone  scenes  is,  to 
warn  the  present  generation,  not  to  sleep  at  their 
posts,  nor  to  rely  on  British  magnanimity  for  se 
curity. 

More  than  forty-one  years  have  elapsed  since  the  am 
bassadors  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  signed 
the  treaty  of  peace,  at  Ghent,  and  the  most  of  those  who 
bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  war  have  passed  away. 
The  few  surviving  leaders,  and  those  who  distinguished 
themselves  in  those  exciting  times,  are  rapidly  disap 
pearing  from  among  their  brethren,  and  will  soon  only 
live  on  the  pages  of  their  country's  history. 

Having  now  brought  my  account  of  the  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque  to  a  close,  I  hope  every  dispassionate 
American  will  agree  with  me,  that  it  was  beyond  all 
doubt,  owing  to  the  good  seamanship  and  gallant  bra 
very  of  our  little  nary,  in  combination  with  the  indefati 
gable  annoyance  of  the  privateers  and  letters-of-marque, 
that  an  honorable  peace  was  so  soon  restored  to  our  be 
loved  country. 

*  The  (.'OFPacl-s  ?rrr<.(]  Paris  in  ]fl-l  ;   the-  ;>r.>e  JMT  the  EsiiLsh  Uuut  the  city 
' 


398  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

And  here  I  would  respectfully  ask  my  readers  to  re 
flect  for  a  moment,  on  the  immense  advantages  this  war 
has  conferred  upon  the"  United  States. 

In  my  opinion,  it  has  advanced  the  nation  more  than 
half  a  century  in  wealth  and  prosperity.  It  has  given 
us  a  navy  in  which  the  whole  nation  has  the  most  en 
tire  confidence,  has  been  the  cause  of  fortifying  our  sea 
ports,  has  built  up  our  manufactories,  and  enriched  the 
country  in  a  thousand  other  ways  by  developing  its 
resources. 

It  has  given  us  a  home  feeling  of  self-reliance  on  our 
own  strength,  and  power  to  protect  ourselves  against 
foreign  aggression.  And  what  is  far  above  every  other 
consideration,  it  has  given  us  a  national  character,  and 
caused  our  flag  to  be  respected  in  every  part  of  the 
world.  It  has  inspired  every  individual  American  with 
a  feeling  of  self-respect,  and  a  stronger  and  deeper  love 
for  his  country's  honor  and  glory  ;  and  it  continues  to 
cherish  a  growing  feeling  of  patriotism,  which,  after  all, 
is  a  nation's  surest  and  best  protection. 

Since  our  war  with  England,  an  American  citizen, 
whether  at  home  or  abroad,  is  not  ashamed  to  hold  up 
his  head,  to  defend  and  sustain  the  honor  of  his  native 
land. 

After  the  dastardly  attack  on  the  frigate  Chesapeake, 
by  the  British,  we  were  often  made  to  blush  for  the 
honor  of  our  country.  But,  since  the  war,  what  Amer 
ican  is  there  that  does  not  feel  his  heart  warm  with  gra 
titude,  and  his  pulse  beat  quicker  when  reading  our 
numerous  naval  victories. 

.My  book  is  written  in  a  spirit  of  truth  and  justice,  and 
though  I  have  enumerated  many  wrongs  and  insults  in 
flicted  upon  us  in  our  national  infancy,  still  I  would 
counsel  the  young  men  of  the  present  generation,  not  to 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  399 

indulge  in  a  revengeful  spirit.  I  hope  and  trust  they 
will  ever  cherish  a  vigilant  watchfulness  over  the  liber 
ties  of  their  country.  They  must  "  remember  to  ask  from 
other  nations  nothing  that  is  not  clearly  right,  nor  sub 
mit  to  any  thing  that  is  palpably  wrong.'7 

This  is  the  road  all  great  nations  have  travelled,  and 
the  only  sure  one  that  leads  to  greatness  and  undying- 
glory. 

Notwithstanding  what  I  have  said  respecting  our  late 
war  with  England,  I  would  not  be  understood  as  being 
in  favor  of  another  war  with  that  nation,  at  present. 
On  the  contrary,  I  see  no  sufficient  cause  of  war  be 
tween  the  two  countries,  and  there  are  a  thousand  rea 
sons  why  we  should  cultivate  the  most  friendly  relations 
for  our  mutual  benefit. 

Our  country  having  become  strong  and  powerful,  I 
hope  we  shall  not  hereafter  enter  into  war  with  any 
power  weaker  than  ourselves,  on  account  of  slight  or 
imaginary  wrongs.  But  should  any  great  nation  offer 
us  insult,  or  invade  one  foot  of  our  territory,  I  hope 
every  man  capable  of  bearing  arms  will  rush  to  the  res 
cue,  and  that  the  young  men  will  march  in  a  solid  pha 
lanx  to  meet  the  foe.  Should  they  fall  in  the  conflict, 
they  will  fall  with  the  glorious  consolation,  that  their 
memories  will  be  for  ever  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of 
their  countrymen. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  only  to  express  the  regret  that 
I  did  not  commence  my  book  a  year  sooner.  I  am  now 
nearly  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and  being  fearful  that 
I  might  drop  off  before  I  could  see  it  published,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  devote  as  much  time  and  care  to  its 
composition,  as  the  subject  deserves. 

But  should  it  please  God  to  prolong  my  life  a  few 


400  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

years,  I  hope  to  be  enabled  to  correct  some  errors  and 
omissions  that  may  be  observed  in  this  history.  Such 
as  it  is,  however,  whether  for  good  or  for  evil,  with  all 
its  faults  and  deficiencies,  I  now  present  it  to  the  Amer 
ican  public,  to  sink  or  swim  on  its  own  merits. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Brooklyn,  New  York,  May,  1856. 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  AND  REMINISCENCES 

CONNECTED  WITH  OUR  WAR  WITH  ENGLAND,  IN  1812,  '13,  AND  '14, 
AJSTD  ITS  GLORIOUS  TERMINATION  IN  THE  EARLY  PART  OF  1815. 

IN  March,  1814,  the  allied  armies  entered  Paris; 
when  a  general  peace  was  concluded  between  the  Euro 
pean  nations  for  a  short  period.  Louis  XVIII.  was 
placed  on  the  throne  of  France,  and  the  Emperor  Na 
poleon  Bonaparte  sent,  by  mutual  agreement,  to  the 
Island  of  Elba  ;  so  that  after  a  general  and  sanguinary 
war  had  convulsed  Europe  from  its  centre  to  its  utmost 
boundaries,  for  a  period  of  twenty-four  years,  a  general 
peace  was  suddenly  proclaimed,  and  the  old  Bourbon 
dynasty  again  restored  to  power. 

In  consequence  of  these  arrangements,  the  United 
States  of  America  were  left  alone  and  single-handed  to 
wage  war  against  England,  with  her  immense  fleets  and 
armies  to  assail  us  on  every  side,  both  by  sea  and  land. 
It  was  presumed  by  the  nations  of  Europe  that  the 
United  States  would  fall  an  easy  prey  to  her  powerful 
enemy. 

At  this  period,  the  writer  of  these  pages  was  at  La 
Rochelle,  where  many  a  worthy  Frenchman,  friendly  to 
the  United  States  and  her  institutions,  said  to  him: 
"  What  now  will  become  of  your  unfortunate  country, 
thus  left  without  the  aid  of  any  other  friendly  nation  to 
fight  England  ?  Will  she  not  with  her  immense  power 
crush  and  destroy  you  without  mercy  ?';  I  replied  that. I 
had  no  fear  for  the  final  result ;  and  it  was  my  opinion, 
that  if  England  sent  an  army  to  invade  the  United  States, 
very  few  of  those  composing  it  would  ever  live  to  return 

(401} 


402          THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

home  again  ;  that  notwithstanding  her  immense  navy, 
covering  almost  every  sea,  our  little  navy  and  privateers 
would  so  harass  and  annoy  her  trade  and  commerce 
that  she  would  very  soon  be  glad  to  make  peace  with 
us  for  her  own  interest.  I  was  persuaded  that  the 
merchants  of  Great  Britain,  if  compelled  to  pay  such 
enormous  rates  of  premium  on  their  ships,  while  at 
war  with  the  United  States,  could  not  carry  on  trade  to 
any  advantage  and  compete  with  the  rest  of  Europe. 

They  dreaded  the  policy  of  the  American  Government 
to  burn,  sink,  and  destroy  every  capture  made  from  the 
enemy,  and  her  instructions  to  every  national  vessel  not 
to  attempt  to  send  a  single  British  captured  vessel  into 
port  for  fear  of  recapture. 

To  carry  out  this  plan  of  destruction,  the  American 
Government  had  determined  to  send  to  sea  twenty  swift 
•  vessels.  This  fleet  was  to  be  called  the  Flying  Squadron. 
,  The  Government  had  also  decided  to  augment  the 
bounty  allowed  to  privateers,  to  act  upon  the  same  prin 
ciple.  This  system  enraged  the  English  almost  to  mad 
ness,  which  evinced  itself  against  the  Americans  in  the 
massacre  perpetrated  on  unarmed  seamen  at  Dartmoor 
prison. 

As  the  general  peace  in  Europe  was  supposed  to  be 
permanently  established,  it  was  obvious  that  the  British 
Government  had  no  further  use  for  its  fleets  and  armies 
in  that,  quarter  of  the  globe.  It,  therefore,  resolved  to 
send  a  large  fleet  and  army  to  the  United  States,  to 
humble  the  Americans,  and  make  them  sue  for  peace, 
by  laying  waste  the  cities  along  the  Atlantic  board.  For 
this  purpose,  the  British  formed  a  grand  plan  of  concen 
trating  all  their  disposable  force  at  Jamaica,  after  the 
battle  of  Toulouse.  Lord  Wellington's  veteran  troops  had 
been,  for  several  years,  campaigning  in  Spain  and  Por- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         403 

tugal,  under  the  immediate  eye  of  him  whom  the  Eng 
lish  familiarly  called  the  Grand  Duke.  These  soldiers 
had  been  trained  and  drilled  by  Marshal  Beresford,  Lord 
Hill,  General  Packenham,  and  other  veteran  chiefs, 
and  often  boasted  of  having  gained  numerous  victories 
over  the  French  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Peninsula. 
These  troops  came  from  Toulouse  to  Bordeaux,  where 
the  writer  of  these  pages  saw  them  reposing  on 
their  laurels  previous  to  their  departure  for  Jamaica. 
Here  they  quietly  remained  until  ordered  to  resume 
their  wonted  occupation  of  war  and  bloodshed.  After 
a  few  months'  relaxation,  they  were  embarked  on  board 
men-of-war  and  transports  for  Jamaica.  In  combina 
tion  with  this  fleet,  a  small  squadron  of  men-of-war  with 
two  thousand  troops,  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  Spithead, 
on  or  about  the  1st  of  October,  1814.  In  the  frigate 
Statira,  belonging  to  this  fleet,  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
Sir  Edward  Packenham.  took  passage.  On  their 
way  out  they  touched  at  Barbadoes,  took  a  few  more 
soldiers  from  that  garrison,  and  then  proceeded  down 
to  Jamaica,  where  they  were  joined  by  another  fleet 
with  troops  from  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  after  their  defeat 
at  Baltimore.  On  their  arrival  at  Jamaica,  they  all 
landed,  and  were  reorganized  and  drilled,  to  accomplish 
their  grand  plan  of  capturing  New  Orleans.  To  make 
success  doubly  sure,  and  sweep  everything  before  them, 
they  augmented  their  numbers  by  taking  with  them  two 
regiments  of  black  soldiers,  making  together  about  fif 
teen  or  sixteen  hundred  men. 

This  army  consisted  of  seven  thousand  soldiers,  exclu 
sive  of  seamen  and  marines,  which  probably  swelled 
their  numbers  to  nine  or  ten  thousand  men.  There  were 
in  this  army  four  Generals,  viz.:  Lambert,  Gibbs,  Keane 
and  Sir  Edward  Packenham.  The  last-nam^  ™~* 


404         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

brother-in-law  to  the  Iron  Duke,  and  with  him  a  great 
favorite.  The  whole  of  this  army  being  placed  under 
the  command  of  Sir  Edward  Packenham,  embarked  on 
board  forty  ships  and  vessels  of  various  sizes,  and  sailed 
from  Jamaica,  about  the  1st  of  December,  1814,  on 
their  destined  expedition  to  capture  New  Orleans. 

They  proceeded  to  Ship  Island,  in  St.  Louis  Bay.  This 
Island  is  situated  at  the  entrance  of  sundry  lakes,  lying 
North  and  East  of  .New  Orleans.  The  design  of  the  in 
vaders  was  to  attack  that  city  in  the  rear.  Besides  the 
fleet  containing  the  troops,  which  entered  the  lakes,  the 
British  Admiral  sent  into  the  Mississippi  a  small  squad 
ron,  composed  of  two  bomb-vessels,  one  sloop,  one  brig 
and  a  schooner,  to  co-operate  with  the  land  forces  in  the 
destruction  of  New  Orleans,  and  subjugation  of  Louis 
iana.  This  marine  force  proceeded  up  the  river  to  their 
anchorage,  near  Fort  St.  Philip,  or  Plaquemine,  which 
••  fortification  is  located  about  forty-three  miles  below  New 
Orleans,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  At  this  place 
the  channel  is  narrow  while  the  forts  are  strong  and  effi 
cient,  having  more  than  thirty-five  pieces  of  heavy  can 
non,  and  a  garrison  of  five  hundred  men. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1815,  the  enemy  commenced 
firing  from  their  heavy  sea  mortars,  prudently  keeping- 
out  of  the  range  of  the  shot  from  the  fort,  which  they 
dared  not  attempt  to  pass,  and  thus  contented  them 
selves  with  cannonading  the  fort  With  bombshells.  They 
continued  their  fire  from  the  9th  to  the  18th  of  January, 
a  period  of  nine  days,  without  doing  the  Americans  any 
material  damage,  considering  the  length  of  the  siege. 
The  enemy  threw  in  and  about  the  fort  more  than  a 
thousand  heavy  shells,  besides  shot  and  shells  from  how 
itzers,  with  round  and  grape.  These  they  discharged 
from,  their  boats  under  cover  of  night,  when  the  Ameri- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         405 

cans  could  not  see  them  from  the  fort,  -and  return  their 
fire  to  much  advantage. 

The  gallant  commanding  officer  of  the  fort,  W.  H. 
Overtoil,  says,  i;The  enemy  was  too  timid  to  approach 
near  enough  to  give  us  an  opportunity  of  destroying 
him.  He  always  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  except 
in  the"  darkness  of  the  night,  when  he  stealthily  fired 
from  his  boats,  and  then  made  a  precipitate  retreat. 
The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  the  fort  was  only  two 
killed  and  seven  wounded."  The  whole  of  the  Ameri 
can  naval  force  was  about  as  follows  :  The  Ship  Louisi 
ana,  the  Schooner  Caroline,  and  a  few  other  small  ves 
sels,  stationed  at  New  Orleans.  On  the  Lakes,  about 
forty  or  fifty  miles  to  the  eastward  of  New  Orleans,  was 
a  small  flotilla  of  gun-boats.  The  whole  of  the  naval 
force  belonging  to  the  LTnited  States  on  this  station  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Commodore 
Daniel  T.  Patterson,  who  himself  remained  at  New  Or 
leans,  to  assist  in  defending  that  city  from  the  ravages 
of  the  enemy.  He  delegated  the  command  of  the  flo 
tilla  on  the  Lakes  to  the  young  but  gallant  Lieutenant 
Commandant  Thomas  Ap.  Catesby  Jones,  with  orders 
to  defend  the  lakes  and  passes  leading  to  New  Orleans, 
to  the  best  of  his  abilities. 

The  whole  force  of  Lieutenant  Jones  was  as  follows  : 
Five  gun-boats,  four  of  which  carried  five  guns  each  ; 
the  fifth  had  but  three,  making  together  twenty-three 
carriage-guns.  The  boats  were  manned  with  from  thirty 
to  forty  men  each,  including  officers  and  marines,  mak 
ing  an  aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  men 
all  told,  armed  with  swords,  muskets,  pistols,  boarding- 
pikes,  tomahawks,  sabres,  cutlasses,  etc.  Besides  the 
above  flotilla,  there  was  a  schooner  called  the  Sea  Horse 
with  one  six-pounder  and  fourteen  men  ;  also  the  small 


406  THE    J3ATTLE    OF    NEW    ORLEANS. 

sloop  Alligator, "(tender  to  the  flotilla,)  with  one  four- 
pounder  and  eight  men.  The  schooner  being  at  a  con 
siderable  distance  from  the  fleet  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Louis, 
was  destroyed  to  prevent  her  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  The  little  tender,  being  detached  from  the 
flotilla,  was  soon  captured  by  the  British. 

Lieutenant  Jones  states,  in  his  official  account  of  the 
action,  that  on  the  12th  of  December,  1814,  the  enemy's 
fleet  off  Ship  Island  had  so  increased  in  numbers  he 
deemed  it  imprudent  to  remain  in  his  present  position 
with  his  small  fleet.  He  therefore  concluded  to  steer  as 
soon  as  possible  to  the  westward,  and  gain  a  station  near 
the  Malheureux  Islands,  and  place  his  little  squadron  in 
a  position  to  oppose  the  further  progress  of  the  enemy 
up  the  lakes.  At  the  same  time  he  wished  to  give  him 
self  an  opportunity  of  retreating,  if  necessary,  to  the 
fort  at  the  Petite  Coquilles.  At  10  A.M.,  on  the  13th, 
he  discovered  that  a  large  flotilla  of  barges  had  left  the 
fleet,  and  were  shaping  their  course  towards  the  Pass 
Christian.  At  2  p.  M.,  the  enemy's  flotilla  having 
gained  the  Pass,  continued  their  course  to  the  westward, 
which  convinced  him  that  an  attack  on  the  gun-boats 
was  meditated.  At  3  p.  M.,  he  got  under  weigh, 
and  proceeded,  the  best  way  he  could,  on  his  passage 
towards  the  Petite  Coquilles.  He  says,  "  About  1  o'clock 
A.  M.,  on  the  14th,  it  became  quite  calm,  and  our  ves 
sels,  for  want  of  wind,  became  unmanageable,  when  we 
came  to  anchor  at  the  west  end  of  Malheureux  Islands 
near  the  isle  of  St.  Joseph. 

At  daylight  the  next  morning,  December  the  15th,  it 
being  perfectly  calm,  the  enemy's  flotilla  was  lying  at 
anchor  about  nine  miles  (Distance  from  us. 

They  soon,  however,  were  put  in  motion,  and  were 
seen  rapidly  advancing  towards  us.  We,  therefore,  had 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.          407 

but  one  alternative,  and  that  was  to  place  our  vessels  in 
the  best  possible  position  to  give  the  enemy  a  "  warm 
reception.7' 

The  commanders  of  all  the  gun-boats  were  called  on 
board  of  Lieutenant  Jones7  vessel,  and  made  acquainted 
with  his  plan  of  defence. 

It  was  decided  to  anchor  the  little  squadron  in  close 
line  athwart  the  channel,  put  springs  upon  their  cables, 
and  await  the  attack  of  the  enemy. 

Commander  Jones  adds :  "  At  9  A.M.  I  clearly  saw  the 
foe  advance  with  forty-two  heavy  launches  and  gun- 
barges,  besides  three  light  gigs. 

"At  half-past  9  the  enemy's  flotilla  canie  to  anchor  a 
little  out  of  the  reach  of  our  shot,  apparently  preparing 
for  the  attack.  At  half-past  10  the  enemy  got  under 
way,  and  formed  a  line  abreast  of  our  fleet  in  open  order, 
steering  directly  for  our  line. 

"  As  soon  as  he  came  within  the  reach  of  our  shot, 
we  opened  a  fire  upon  him,  but  without  much  effect,  his 
boats  being  comparatively  but  small  objects.  A  few 
minutes  before  11  o'clock  our  adversaries  opened  their 
fire  from  their  whole  line,  when  the  action  became 
general  and  destructive  on  both  sides. 

"At  11.49  the  advance  boats  of  the  foe,  three  in 
number,  attempted  to  board  one  of  our  squadron,  but 
were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  every  officer  killed  or 
wounded,  and  two  of  their  boats  sunk.  A  second 
attempt  to  board  was  made  by  four  other  boats,  who 
shared  an  almost  similar  fate." 

At  this  moment  Commander  Jones  received  a  wound 
from  a  musket  ball  in  his  left  shoulder.  The  wound 
was  so  severe,  and  the  loss  of  blood  so  great,  that  he 
was  compelled  to  go  below,  and  resign  the  command  of 
the  deck  to  Mr.  George  Parker,  master's  mate,  with 


408         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

orders  to  continue  the  action.  Mr.  Parker  bravely 
defended  the  vessel  until  he  was  severely  wounded, 
when  the  enemy,  by  superior  numbers,  succeeded  in 
getting  possession  of  the  deck,  and  was  enabled  to  turn 
the  guns  of  the  captured  vessel  upon  the  American  gun 
boats.  After  they  had  nobly  sustained  the  honor  of  the 
flag  against  overwhelming  numbers,  at  close  quarters, 
for  more  than  two  hours,  they  were  reluctantly  obliged 
to  surrender  to  a  superior  force,  and  were  all  made 
prisoners  of  war. 

Commodore  Jones,  Lieuts.  Spedden  and  McKeever, 
together  with  all  the  other  officers  and  seamen  engaged 
in  the  gallant  defence  of  their  flag  and  little  fleet,  are 
richly  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  their  country  ;  and  as 
their  names  are  enrolled  on  the  pages  of  its  history, 
their  memories  will  ever  be  embalmed  in  the  heart  of 
every  true  American. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  begs  leave  of  the  reader  to 
digress  for  a  few  moments  from  narrating  the  further 
acts  of  the  British  flotilla,  while  he  proceeds  to  pay  a 
just  tribute  to  the  gallant  Lieutenant  Jones.  While  at 
Lima,  and  at  other  ports  on  the  western  coast  of  South 
America  in  the  years  1825  and  1826,  the  writer  became' 
acquainted  with  Captain  Thomas  Ap.  Catesby  Jones,  who 
was  then  in  command  of  the  United  States  Sloop-of-war 
Peacock,  which  ship  was  cruising  on  that  coast  I  take 
this  occasion  to  acknowledge  Captain  Jones  as  one  of 
my  personal  friends.  I  think  it  would  be  difficult  to 
find  a  more  worthy  man,  or  a  braver  and  more  efficient, 
commander.  Independently  of  these  warlike  qualities, 
I  take  pleasure  in  adding  that  Commodore  Jones  is  a 
perfect  gentleman  in  all  the  moral  and  social  relations 
of  private  life,  and  a  good  model  for  the  young  officers 
in  our  navy.  In  a  word,  I  think  him  an  honor  to  his 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         409 

country.  Although  eleven  years  had  elapsed  since  Capt. 
Jones  received  the  wound  in  his  shoulder  while  defend 
ing  the  flotilla  against  the  English,  he  could  not,  at  this 
date,  1826,  put  on  his  coat  or  take  it  off  without  assist 
ance. 

In  the  defejice  of  the  five  gun-boats  against  the  Eng 
lish  flotilla,  the  American  loss,  as  furnished  me  by  Com. 
Jones  on  the  27th  June,  J856,  was  as  follows  :  Six 
killed  and  thirty-six  wounded.  Total  number  of  killed 
and  wounded,  forty-two.  On  board  of  gun-boat  No.  156, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Jones  himself,  there  were 
at  the  commencement  of  the  action  thirty-six  souls,  in 
cluding  officers,  seamen,  and  marines.  Out  of  this 
number  four  men  were  killed  and  fifteen  \vounded, 
making  nineteen  out  of  thirty-six.  Further  comment 
on  this  hand-to-hand  fight  is  unnecessary. 

This  summary  is  copied  from  an  official  document 
made  up  immediately  after  the  action  ;  and  as  the  name 
of  every  individual  is  given  that  was  killed  or  wounded 
who  belonged  to  the  American  flotilla,  there  can  be  no 
possible  mistake  in  this  detailed  report  of  the  American 
loss  in  their  gallant  defence  of  the  flotilla,  and  in  their 
nobly  sustaining  the  honor  of  the  American  flag. 

The  force  of  the  British  in  this  action  was  as  follows  : 
Forty  launches  and  barges,  mounting  one  carronade, 
each  of  12,  19,  and  24-pound-  calibre,  one  launch 
mounting  one  long  brass  12-pounder,  and  another  launch 
of  the  same  description,  carrying  one  long  brass  9- 
pounder,  three  gig-boats  with  small  arms  only. 

Total  number  of  boats,  45 

Total  number  of  cannon,     -  42 

The  above  flotilla  was  manned  with  twelve  hundred 
men  and  officers,  commanded  by  Captain  Locker,  who 
received  three  spvore  wounds  in  the  action. 


410         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

The  enemy,  as  usual  on  such  occasions,  would  not  ac 
knowledge  his  loss  in  men  and  boats  ;  but  from  the  na 
ture  of  the  combat,  and  from  the  observations  overheard 
by  our  officers  while  prisoners  on  board  of  the  English 
fleet,  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  may  be  fairly 
estimated  at  three  hundred,  among  whom  were  an  un 
usual  proportion  of  officers. 

After  the  capture  of  l^ie  American  flotilla  by  the 
British  fleet,  on  the  15th  of  December,  there  was  nothing 
to  obstruct  their  progress  into  Lake  Borgne.  The  dis 
tance  from  the  Island  of  St.  Joseph  (where  the  battle 
was  fought  between  the  flotillas),  to  New  Orleans,  is 
about  forty  miles.  From  Lake  Borgne  the  English  pro 
ceeded  with  their  shallops  and  flat-bottomed  boats 
through  a  small  creek  called  Bayou  Bienvenu,  and  then 
through  a  small  plantation  canal,  which,  with  much 
labor  and  difficulty,  they  succeeded  in  widening  and 
deepening  so  as  to  pass  through  it  with  their  boats 
loaded  with  a  considerable  portion  of  their  army,  artil 
lery,  and  military  stores,  with  provisions  for  their  troops. 
This  canal  brought  them  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
Mississippi  ;  so  that  on  the  23d  of  December,  a  consider 
able  portion  of  the  enemy's  troops  encamped  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  seven  or  eight  miles  below  New  Or 
leans,  on  the  same  side  on  which  that  city  is  located. 

It  is  necessary  for  those  unacquainted  with  this  region 
to  understand  that  the  whole  country  around  New  Or 
leans  is  extremely  low  ground,  pierced  with  creeks  or 
small  bayous,  with  wide-spread,  dreary  cypress  swamps, 
interwoven  with  underwood  and  bushes,  generally  sub 
merged  with  stagnant  water.  Except  near  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi  and  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes  where 
the  ground  is  banked  up,  drained  and  cultivated,  it  is 
only  a  fit  habitation  for  serpents  and  loathsome  alligators. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         411 

This  region,  the  lower  part  of  Louisiana,  is  beyond 
all  doubt  one  of  the  worst  countries  on  earth  for  Europ 
ean  troops  to  invade.  Had  the  English  army  landed 
here  in  the  summer,  it  would  all  have  been  swept  away 
with  the  ordinary  diseases  of  the  country,  arising  from 
the  climate  and  poisonous  swamps,  As  it  was,  even  in 
the  winter  season  they  could  scarcely  find  dry  ground 
enough  to  form  a  comfortable  encampment.  On  their 
arrival  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  they  spread  them 
selves  about  half  a  mile  along  the  bank  of  the  river, 
with  a  cypress  swamp  in  their  rear.  As  they  had  al 
ready  about  three  thousand  men  in  camp,  they  doubt 
less  felt  themselves  too  strong  to  bo  attacked  by  any 
force  the  Americans  could  send  against  them,  and  were 
probably  anticipating  a  good  night's  rest  after  a  fatiguing 
day  passed  in  removing  from  their  boats  to  their  camp 
grounds. 

But  that  same  evening  about  8  o'clock,  scarcely  had 
they  commenced  lighting  up  their  camp  fires  before  they 
were  attacked  by  Generals  Jackson,  Carroll,  and  Coffee. 
Besides  these  brave  men  with  their  several  divisions, 
there  was  a  detachment  of  artillery  under  the  direction 
of  Colonel  McRea ;  there  were  also  two  6-pounders 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Spots.  The  whole 
of  the  American  land  forces  .in  this  battle  did  not  exceed 
seventeen  hundred  men.  Commodore  Patterson  soon 
dropped  the  U.  S.  Schooner  Caroline  down  the  river, 
opposite  the  British  camp.  The  Caroline  was  directed 
at  a  given  hour  to  open  her  fire  upon  the  British  troops. 
This  was  to  be  the  signal  for  a  general  attack  on  the 
enemy's  camp.  General  Coffee  was  ordered  to  turn  the 
enemy's  forces  on  the  right  near  the  swamp,  while  G-en. 
Jackson  and  the  other  divisions  attacked  the  enemy's 
strongest  position  on  the  left,  near  the  river.  At  the 


412         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

same  time  the  Caroline  kept  up  a  constant  cannonading 
from  her  battery  on  the  invader's  camp,  without  receiv 
ing  the  least  injury,  as  the  English  had  at  that  time  no 
cannon  mounted  to  return  the  compliment.  General 
Jackson  says,  in  his  official  dispatches,  that  General 
Coffee's  men,  with  their  usual  impetuosity,  rushed  on 
the  enemy's  right,  and  entered  his  camp,  while  his  men 
advanced  with  equal  ardor.  He  further  adds,  that  had 
not  a  thick  fog  set  in,  his  troops  would  probably  have  de 
stroyed  or  captured  the  greatest  portion  of  the  enemy. 

Under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  after  continu 
ing  the  fight  for  about  an  hour,  General  Jackson  con 
tented  himself  with  lying  on  the  field  the  remainder  of 
the  night  ;  and  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  with 
drew  to  a  stronger  position,  about  two  miles  nearer  the 
city.  At  this  position  General  Jackson  encamped,  and 
there  waited  the  .arrival  of  the  Kentucky  militia,  and 
other  reinforcements. 

General  Jackson  further  remarks  on  his  night  assault 
upon  the  English  camp,  that  all  his  officers  and  men  per 
formed  their  duty  manfully,  that  they  fought  like  vete 
ran  soldiers,  that  they  merited  his  warmest  approbation, 
and  well  deserve  the  gratitude  of  their  country. 

This  night  battle  on  the  23d  of  December  was  the 
first  meeting  between  the  belligerent  parties,  and  was  a 
gratifying  proof  that  the  invaders  were  not  invincible, 
as  they  here  met  with  a  severe  check  in  their  own 
camp,  soon  after  placing  their  feet  upon  the  American 
soil.  Although  the  extent  of  their  loss  was  not  known 
at  that  time,  it  was  subsequently  ascertained  to  be  as 
follows  : 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.          413 

* 

Killed,    -         -      fl#H  100 

Wounded,  -         230 

Prisoners  taken  by  the  Americans  : 
One  major,  two  lieutenants,  one  midshipman, 
with    sixty-six  non-commissioned  officers    and 

privates,  inclusive.  70 

^  

Total,  400 

Making  a  grand  total  of  the  enemy  put  hors  de  combat 
at  the  commencement  of  the  campaign,  which  must  be 
acknowledged  a  very  gratifying  prelude  to  future  events. 

The  Americans  lost  about  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Among  the  offi 
cers,  Colonel  Lauderdale  was  killed,  Colonels  Dyer  and 
Gibson  of  the  same  corps  wounded. 

From  the  time  of  the  battle  on  the 'night  of  the  23d, 
the  Americans  and  British  frequently  exchanged  shot 
from  their  artillery,  and  there 'was  often  brisk  skirmish 
ing  between  the  outposts  of  the  belligerent  parties.  The 
schooner  Caroline,  from  her  anchorage  in  the  river,  con 
tinued  to  harass  and  annoy  the  enemy's  camp  until  the 
night  of  the  26th,  when  the  British,  under  cover  of 
darkness,  succeeded  in  erecting  a  small  battery  from 
which  they  fired  hot  shot,  and  from  this  battery  on  the 
27th  succeeded  in  setting  her  on  fire.  The  brave  Cap 
tain  John  D.  Henley,  in  his  dispatches  to  Commodore 
Patterson,  says:  "On  the  27th  of  December,  at  day 
light  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  opened  a  fire  upon  my 
vessel  with  shells  and  hot  shot,  and  soon  succeeded  in 
setting  her  on  fire.  We  were,  therefore,  obliged  to 
abandon  her  in  our  boats,  as  we  could  make  no  further 
resistance.  Our  loss  was  one  man  killed  and  six  wound 
ed.  All  my  officers  and  men  in  this  affair  behaved  with 
great  gallantry,  and  merit  my  entire  approbation. 


414         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

* 

"  Soon  after  leaving  the  Caroline  we  had  the  mortifi 
cation  of  seeing  her  blow  up,  not,  however,  without  the 
consolation  of  our  having  inflicted  much  damage  to  the 
enemy." 

I  will  here  digress  from  a  continuation  of  my  narra 
tive  of  the  invaders  of  our  soil,  collected  from  official 
documents,  and  insert  an  account  of  the  burning  of  the 
Caroline,  given  me  about  two  years  after  the  peace  was 
concluded  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain, 

by  Lieutenant  S ,  a  gentleman  belonging  to  the 

British  Navy. 

Lieutenant  S was  a  brave,  worthy  man,  and  a 

sincere  lover  of  truth.  This  gentleman  said  in  his  state 
ment  of  the  affair,  that  he  was  employed  in  superintend 
ing  the  transportation  of  the  artillery  from  their  boats 
to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  ;  that  on  the  night  of  the 
23d  of  December  the  schooner  Caroline  harassed  and 
annoyed  them  almost  incessantly  ;  that  they  had  no  guns 
to  return  her  fire  during  two  nights  and  one  day  ;  that 
himself  and  his  men  were  obliged  to  lie  low,  and  shelter 
themselves  the  best  way  they  could  behind  a  small  bank 
or  levee  along  the  river  side,  and  that  many  of  his 
countrymen  had  frequently  to  retreat  into  the  cypress 
swamp  to  screen  themselves  from  the  grape  and  canister 
shot  discharged  from  the  battery  of  this  destructive 
vessel.  At  length,  however,  they  collected  from  the 
neighboring  swamp  a  large  quantity  of  bushes  and  brush 
wood.  With  these  materials,  and  bags  of  earth  to  fill 
in  among  the  bushes,  they  succeeded  on  the  night  of  the 
26th  in  constructing  a  redoubt  sufficiently  strong  and 
solid  to  protect  them  from  the  galling  fire  of  the  Caro 
line.  Behind  this  breastwork,  he  said,  they  soon  mounted 
five  pieces  of  cannon,  and  that  at  daylight  in  the  morn 
ing  on  the  27th,  they  commenced  a  severe  discharge  of 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         415 

shot  and  shells  upon  the  schooner,  and  soon  succeeded 
in  setting  her  on  fire,  to  the  great  joy  of  all  the  British 
army. 

Gen.  Jackson  in  his  official  account,  states  :  "On  the 
morning  of  the  27th  of  December,  the  enemy  succeeded 
in  blowing  up  the  Caroline  by  means  of  hot  shot  thrown 
from  a  land  battery,  which  he  had  erected  the  previous 
night. 

"Emboldened  by  this  event,  he  marched  his  whole 
force  along  the  levee,  in  hopes  of  driving  us  from  our 
position,  and  with  this  view  opened  his  fire  upon  us  at 
a  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  with  bombs  and  rockets. 
He  was,  however,  repulsed  with  considerable  loss,  not 
less,  it  is  believed,  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  men 
killed. 

"  Our  own  loss  was  inconsiderable,  not  more  than  six 
men  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  Since  this  attack,  he 
has  not  ventured  to  repeat  the  attempt,  though  lying 
close  together.  There  has,  however,  been  frequent 
skirmishing  between  our  pickets." 

Gen.  Jackson  here  laments  that  he  had  not  sufficient 
means  to  carry  on  offensive  operations  against  his  ad 
versaries. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  the  brave  Colonel  Hen 
derson  and  several  private  soldiers  were  killed  by  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  on  the  left  wing  of  the  army. 
Colonel  Henderson  was  a  brave,  meritorious  officer,  and 
a  great  loss  to  our  army. 

The  Kentucky  troops  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  Gen. 
Jackson's  effective  force  at  this  point  did  not  exceed 
three  thousand  men,  while  the  British  army  were  more 
than  double  that  number.  Prisoners  and  deserters  both 
agreed  that  more  than  seven  thousand  British  troops 
had  landed  from  their  boats. 


416         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

While  Gen.  Jackson  pursued  the  undeviating  policy 
of  harassing  the  enemy  along  his  advance  posts  with  the 
United  States  troops  and  drilled  volunteer  regiments, 
his  main  line  of  defence  was  daily  being  strengthened 
by  recruits  from  the  interior  of  Kentucky  and  Tennes 
see.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  a  large  portion  of  these 
men  were  farmers,  who,  from  their  childhood,  had  been 
accustomed  to  the  use  of  the  axe  and  the  spade,  and 
therefore  were  extremely  useful  in  erecting  temporary 
fortifications.  These  men,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel 
La  Tour,  the  chief  engineer,  were  constantly  employed 
in  collecting  and  placing  logs  of  forest  trees  along  the, 
whole  line,  while  numerous  citizens  from  New  Orleans 
were  occupied  in  collecting  bags  of  cotton  and  placing 
them  in  a  position  to  form  embrasures  for  the  artillery. 
These  logs,  with  cotton  bags  and  other  materials  filled 
in  with  mud  arid  earth,  soon  formed,  as  it  were,  a  wall 
of  defence  about  six  feet  high.  In  front  of  these  works 
was  a  broad  wet  ditch,  and  although  these  fortifications 
were  rudely  constructed,  they  were  nevertheless  suffi 
ciently  strong  and  thick  to  protect  the  Americans  from 
the  fire  of  their  assailants. 

In  our  Western  States,  almost  every  farmer  is  trained 
from  his  boyhood  to  the  use  of  the  rifle  ;  consequently  a 
large  proportion  of  these  troops  were  good  marksmen, 
and  very  efficient  in  defending  fortifications. 

General  Jackson's  main  defence,  according  to  a  draft 
or  plan  by  Colonel  La  Tour,  was  between  1,800  and 
1,900  yards,  that  is  a  little  over  a  mile  in  length.  The 
right  commenced  at  the  river  side  and  ran  across  the 
plain  to  the  extreme  left,  extending  to  a  large  wet  cy 
press  swamp. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  visited  the  battle  ground 
where  these  thrilling  scenes  transpired,  some  eighteen 


THE  BATTLE  OF  SEW  ORLEANS. 


417 


months  after  their  occurrence,  and  within  a  few  yeais 
has  again  passed  over  the  same  memorable  fields,  so  that 
he  is  still  familiar  with  all  the  important  locations  within 
a  circle  of  fifty  miles  from  New  Orleans. 

After  this  little  digression,  I  will  proceed  to  follow 
up  the  historical  narration  connected  with  these  impor 
tant  events.  On  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  opposite 
Gen.  Jackson's  strong  defence,  Gen.  Morgan  had  an 
entrenched  camp  protected  by  two  marine  batteries  on 
the  bank,  -erected  and  superintended  by  Commodore 
Patterson.  Within  this  camp  Gen.  Morgan  had  under 
his  command  the  New  Orleans  Contingent,  the  Louisi 
ana  Militia,  and  a  detachment  of  Kentucky  troops. 
Commodore  Patterson  had  placed  his  vessel,  the  United 
States  Ship  Louisiana,  in  the  river  near  the  fort  to 
protect  Gen.  Morgan's  camp,  and  also  to  protect  Gen. 
Jackson's  flank  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  to 
repel  the  invaders  whenever  they  should  come  within 
the  reach  of  his  guns.  By  all  accounts,  the  heroic  Pat 
terson  was  in  every  place  where  he  could  do  the  enemy 
the  most  harm. 

In  Commodore  Patterson's  dispatches  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  dated  December  the  29th,  he  says  "Yes 
terday  morning  our  advanced  guards  retreated  towards 
our  lines.  The  enemy  pursued  throwing  rockets,  firing 
shot  and  shells  from  field  artillery  while  they  advanced 
on  the  road  behind  the  levee.  I  got  springs  on  the 
cables  of  the  Louisiana,  and  soon  brought  her  broadside 
to  bear  on  the  invaders. 

"  At  half-past  eight  the  enemy  opened  their  fire  upon 
the  ship,  with  shells,  hot  shot,  and  rockets.  We  in 
stantly  returned  their  fire,  which  was  continued  without 
intermission  till  1  P.M.,  when  the  enemy  slackened  their 
27 


418         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

fire,  and  retreated  with  a  part  of  their  artillery,  evi 
dently  with  great  loss. 

"At  3  P.M.  the  enemy  were  silenced  ;  at  4  we  ceased 
firing  from  the  ship,  the  invaders  having  retired  beyond 
the  reach  of  our  guns.  Many  of  their  shot  passed  over 
the  ship,  and  their  shells  burst  over  our  decks,  which 
were  strewed  with  their  fragments  ;  and  yet  after  an  in 
cessant  cannonading  of  upwards  of  seven  hours,  during 
which  time  eight  hundred  shot  were  fired  from  the  ship, 
one  man  only  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  piece  of  shell, 
and  one  shot  passed  between  the  bowsprit  and  the  heel 
of  the  jib-boom." 

Gen.  Jackson  having  applied  for  officers  and  seamen 
to  work  the  heavy  cannon  on  his  lines,  Lieutenants 
Norris  and  Crawley,  late  of  the  schooner  Caroline,  with 
the  greater  part  of  her  crew,  instantly  volunteered. 
They  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  under  the  immediate 
eye  of  the  Commander-in-Chief, 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  AN  OFFICER  UNDER  GEN.  JACK- 
SON'S  COMMAND,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  BALTIMORE,  DATED, 

CAMP,  FOUR    MILES    BELOW    ]STEW    ORLEANS,  [ 

January  6th.  '•>          ) 

"  The  enemy  have  made  several  attempts  to  carry 
our  works,  but  up  to  this  date  have  been  uniformly  re 
pulsed  and  driven  back.  It  is  now  fourteen  days  since 
the  first  battle  took  place  between  our  troops  and  the 
British,  and  for  the  whole  of  the  last  two  weeks  we  have 
been  almost  constantly  employed  in  cannonading  the 
invaders. 

"  We  have  battered  down  their  advanced  works  as 
fast  as  they  could  erect  them.  I  arn  sorry  to  say  v*e 
have  lost  from  a  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  men, 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         419 

among  whom  were  some  of  our  most  respectable  citizens. 
Gen.  Jackson  is  a  perfect  hero.  I  think,  however,  he 
exposes  himself  too  much,  for  should  a  chance  shot  take 
him  off?  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  would  be  the  con 
sequence  to  our  army.  His  head-quarters  are  so  near 
the  British  lines,  that  at  least  thirty  cannon  balls  have 
passed  through  the  plantation  house  which  he  occupies. 

"The  opposing  lines  are  so  near  each  other,  that  the 
picket-guards  skirmish  daily.'7 

While  the  cannonading  and  skirmishing  were  kept  up 
without  much  cessation  by  both  the  belligerent  parties, 
it  was  evident  to  Glen.  Jackson,  from  some  uncommon 
movements  he  discovered  in  the  British  camp,  that  the 
enemy  was  preparing  to  make  a  general  assault  upon 
his  lines,  and  if  possible,  carry  his  defences  by  storm. 
He  therefore  kept  up  a  show  of  resistance  opposite  the 
British  out-posts,  while  he  ordered  the  main  armv  to 
fall  back  and  retire  to  the  rear  of  his  strong  defence. 

He  arranged  the  different  corps  of  his  army  as  fol 
lows  :  the  regular  troops  and  part  of  the  militia  of  Louis 
iana  occupied  and  defended  six  hundred  yards  on  the 
right,  next  to  the  river  ;  Gen.  Carroll's  division,  twelve 
hundred  Strong,  eight  hundred  yards  in  the  centre  ; 
Gen.  Coffee's  corps  of  riflemen,  seven  hundred  strong, 
the  remainder  of  the  ground  on  the  extreme  left  near 
the  swamp. 

Besides  the  foregoing,  there  were  about  six  or  eight 
hundred  of  the  Kentucky  militia  in  the  rear  of  the  line,, 
to  act  as  a  reserve  corps,  to  assist  at  any  point  where 
their  services  should  be  most  required. 

Gen.  Jackson  says  in  his  official  report,  that  the 
whole  number  of  his  men,  on  this  side  of  the  river,  did 
not  exceed  three  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety. 

All   along  this  extended  line  were  placed  parks  of 


420         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

artillery,  fusileers,  and  riflemen,  so  that  the  Americans 
were  all  ready,  and  anxiously  awaiting  the  assault  of  the 
invaders. 

Having  brought  my  readers  to  the  eve  of  the  great 
and  decisive  battle  between  the  Americans  and  the  in 
vading  army,  I  will  observe  that  this  region  of  country, 
for  many  miles  below  New  Orleans,  is  an  entire  dead 
level,  so  that  the  enemy  had  neither  hill  nor  hollow  to 
protect  him  from  the  destructive  fire  of  the  Americans. 

The  Commander-in-Chief  being  satisfied  that  his  own 
defences  were  sufficiently  strong  to  repel  any  force  the 
enemy  could  send  against  him,  had  leisure  to  turn  his 
attention  to  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  With  his  usual 
activity  and  quick-si ghtedri ess  to  watch  and  guard  ever}' 
weak  point,  he  forthwith  resolved  to  strengthen  Com 
modore  Patterson  and  Gen.  Morgan's  force,  to  protect 
their  batteries,  which  were  located  opposite  his  own 
camp  and  stronghold.  He  accordingly  ordered  a  detach 
ment  of  four  hundred  Kentucky  militia,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Col.  Davis,  to  leave  the  camp  at  7  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  on  the  7th  of  Jan.,  to  proceed  forthwith  to  New 
Orleans,  and  from  thence  cross  over  the  river  in  boats, 
join  Gen.  Morgan's  camp,  and  assist  in  repelling  the 
English,  should  they  make  an  assault  upon  his  camp  or 
marine  batteries. 

Having  made  these  preliminary  arrangements  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,,  the  Americans  anxiously  awaited  the 
enemy,  being  prepared  to  give  him  a  warm  reception 
whenever  it  should  suit  his  pleasure  to  commence  the 
deadly  conflict.  What  may  have  been  the  feelings  of 
the  belligerent  parties,  while  reposing  that  night  on  the 
battle-field,  I  will  not  attempt  to  portray,  but  will  leave^ 
each  one  of  my  readers  to  conjecture  for  himself. 

They  all    expected   the    deadly  strife    to  commence 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         421 

the  next  morning.  In  all  human  probability  a  large 
portion  of  friends  and  foes  would  soon  mingle  in  the 
dust,  and  thus  pass  from  time  to  eternity. 

It  will  not  do,  however,  for  soldiers  at  such  times  to 
be  very  sentimental,  or  indulge  in  much  reflection,  when 
there  is  no  alternative  but  to  kill  or  be  killed. 

But  after  all,  there  was  a  glorious  consolation  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  "  that  they  had  their  quarrel 
just ;"  were  fighting  to  defend  their  wives  and  children 
from  the  foul  pollution  of  the  hireling  and  the  spoiler, 
who  came  from  a  foreign  land  to  defile  their  soil,  and 
by  brute  force  to  trample  under  foot  their  cherished 
liberty  and  sacred  rights. 

These  feelings,  mingled  with  a  patriotic  faith  in  a  just 
God,  inspired  their  hearts  to  believe  that  an  All-wise 
Being  would  reward  the  just  and  innocent,  and  punish 
the  guilty  oppressor. 

Suffice  then  to  say,  that,  the  next  day  before  daylight 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  January,  the  enemy  silently 
prepared  a  large  and  strong  force  to  storm  General 
Jackson's  line  of  defence.  Their  columns,  in  the  ob 
scurity  of  the  morning,  advanced  unperceived  until 
within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  American  camp,  where 
they  met  and  drove  in  the  picket  guard.  At  half-past 
6  o'clock,  soon  after  daylight,  they  advanced  with  great 
vivacity  in  two  strong  and  deep  columns,  one  on  the 
right  next  to  the  river,  the  other  on  the  extreme  left,  next 
to  the  swamp.  The  column  on  General  Jackson's  right 
was  composed  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  picked 
grenadiers,  supposed  to  be  the  very  flower  of  the  Brit 
ish  army.  The  division  on  the  left  was  said  to  number 
three  thousand  five  hundred,  composed  of  artillery-men 
and  fusileers.  Against  the  centre  of  the  line  were  di 
rected  mortars,  bombs,  and  obusiers,  or  small  mortars. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  men  were  provided  with 


422         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

fascines  to  fill  up  the  ditch,  and  with  scaling  ladders  to 
ascend  and  storm  our  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

They  commenced  the  assault  with  a  furious  discharge 
of  congreve  rockets,  artillery,  and  bombshells  The 
soldiers  were  gallantly  led  on  by  their  officers  ;  and 
when  they  approached  to  within  about  half  mus 
ket  shot  distance,  General  Jackson  opened  a  tre 
mendous  fire  from  his  whole  line  of  artillery,  muskets 
and  rifles.  As  the  enemy  was  so  near  our  works,  and 
the  ground  level,  the  infliction  upon  the  foe  was  terrible 
in  the  extreme.  The  artillery  being  well  directed,  made 
as  it  were  entire  lanes  through  the  dense  columns  of  the 
English,  while  the  incessant  fire  of  musketry  covered 
the  field  and  ditch  with  their  killed  and  wounded.  In 
fine,  the  enemy  were  swept  down  like  grass  before  the 
reaper.  Notwithstanding  they  fell  by  hundreds,  still  they 
continued  to  advance,  even  to  the  edge  of  the  ditch,  and 
almost  to  the  very  muzzle  of  the  guns  of  the  American  de 
fences. 

Though  the  whole  line  was  attacked,  yet  the  most 
severe  assault  was  made  on  the  extreme  left  next  to  the 
swamp,  where  General  Coffee's  brigade  of  Tennessee 
riflemen  were  stationed.  Although  a  portion  of  these 
brave  men  next  to  the  swamp  were  up  to  their  knees  in 
mud  arid  water,  they  defended  that  point  with  deadly 
effect.  There  the  carnage  was  prodigious.  The  men 
being  sheltered  by  the  breast-works  took  steady  and  de 
liberate  aim,  so  that  almost  every  shot  took  effect.  The 
ditch  near  the  swamp  was  nearly  filled  with  killed  and 
wounded,  and  the  whole  field  in  that  vicinity  almost 
literally  covered  with  the  dead  and  dying.  The  roar  of 
the  artillery  and  the  sharp  sound  of  the  musketry  from 
our  lines  kept  up  a  continuous  roar,  resembling  a  vivid 
thunder  storm.  The  incessant  sheets  of  fire,  poured 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.          423 

forth  from  every  quarter,  so  filled  the  atmosphere  with 
smoke  and  vapor,  that  it  was  difficult  at  times  to  dis 
tinguish  near  objects  in  the  American  camp  for  several 
moments. 

During  the  whole  of  this  memorable  battle,  which 
continued  for  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  the  brave  Jackson 
was  rapidly  passing  along  his  whole  line  of  defence,  en 
couraging  and  cheering  the  soldiers  with  such  animating 
words  as  "  Give  it  to  them,  my  boys  ;"  "  Let  us  finish 
the  business  to-day,  and  teach  our  enemies  such  a  lesson 
that  they  will  not  soon  forget  the  8th  of  January. " 

The  British  columns  were  headed  by  their  principal 
Generals,  Packenham,  Gibbs,  and  Keane.  The  first  two 
were  killed,  bravely  fighting  at  the  head  of  their  troops. 
The  latter,  General  Keane,  was  severely  wounded,  and 
carried  off  the  field,  Twice  their  columns  were  re 
pulsed  and  broken,  and  obliged  to  retreat  and  form 
anew.  A  third  attempt  was  made  to  rally  the  men  for 
another  assault,  but  their  principal  generals  being  either 
killed  or  wounded  it  was  found  impossible  to  rally  them. 
Being  disorganized  and  cut  to  pieces  they  soon  fled  in 
confusion  from  the  field,  leaving  the  ditch  and  the  ad 
jacent  ground  literally  covered  with  their  dead  and 
wounded. 

The  total  loss  of  the  British  in  this  action,  as  stated 
in  General  Jackson's  official  report,  was,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  as  follows  : 

Killed,  700 

Wounded,     -  .      1,400 

Prisoners  taken  :  One  major,  four  captains, 
eleven  lieutenants,  one  ensign,  with  four  hun 
dred  and  eighty-three  camp  officers  and  pri 
vates,  500 

Making  together  a  grand  total  of          2,600 


N 
424         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

Besides  the  numerous  English  prisoners  taken  by  the 
Americans  in  this  battle,  they  also  took  from  the  enemy 
about  one  thousand  stand  of  arms  of  various  descriptions. 

General  Jackson  stated  his  own  loss  to  be  but  ten 
killed  and  as  many  wounded.  In  the  history  of  wars 
and  battles,  either  in  ancient  or  modern  times,  I  believe 
there  is  no  instance  on  record  where  there  was  so  much 
suffering  on  one  side,  and  so  little  on  the  other,  as  in 
this  memorable  battle  of  New  Orleans  on  the  8th  of  Jan 
uary,  1815. 

Simultaneously  with  the  attack  of  the  British  on 
General  Jackson's  lines  at  daylight  on  the  8th  of  Janu 
ary,  the  British  threw  over  the  river  in  boats  six  hun 
dred  men  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Thornton. 
They  had  already  on  that  side  of  the  river  four  hundred, 
which  augmented  their  numbers  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Mississippi  to  one  thousand  efficient  artillery-men 
and  fusileers.  This  force  made  a  bold  dash  upon  Gen. 
Morgan's  marine  batteries,  which,  after  a  short  resist 
ance,  were  captured  by  the  enemy.  These  batteries, 
however,  were  not  taken  until  after  the  guns  had  been 
spiked  and  the  powder  destroyed  by  Com.  Patterson, 
assisted  by  his  brave  officers  arid  seamen. 

After  the  severe  repulse  of  the  British  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th,  their  principal  generals  being  either  killed 
or  wounded,  the  command  of  the  army  devolved  upon 
Major-General  Lambert,  who  had  been  in  command  of  a 
reserve  corps  stationed  in  the  rear.  This  officer  now 
came  forward  to  direct  the  movement  and  operations  of 
the  scattered  British  forces,  and  if  possible  to  retrieve 
the  misfortunes  of  the  day.  He  found  the  soldiers  re 
treating  in  disorder  and  confusion  ;  but  from  the  habit 
of  strict  discipline  and  obedience,  they  were  soon  re 
stored  to  order.  After  General  Lambert  had  examined 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         "425 

the  situation  of  affairs,  he  saw  the  utter  hopelessness  of 
attempting  to  force  General  Jackson's  strong  defence. 
He  prudently  withdrew  his  troops  out  of  the  reach  of 
the  fire  of  the  Americans,  and  finally  from  the  battle-field. 

At  this  time  the  Americans  kept  up  an  incessant  fire 
upon  the  flying  foe  until  out  of  the  reach  of  their  artillery. 
A.fter  the  firing  had  ceased  on  both  sides,  General  Lam 
bert,  about  noon,  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  General  Jackson, 
asking  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  two  days  to  bury 
the  dead  and  take  care  of  the  wounded.  The  sagacious 
and  quick-sighted  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American 
forces  answered  General  Lambert  that  he  would  agree 
to  the  cessation  of  hostilities  for  twentv-four  hours  for 
the  purpose  required,  upon  condition  that  neither  party 
should  send  reinforcements  to  the  opposite  or  right  bank 
of  the  river,  and  that  both  parties  should  be  at  liberty 
to  continue  offensive  operations  there.  The  British 
General  required  a  short  time  to  consider  these  propo 
sitions.  In  the  meantime  he  ordered  Colonel  Thornton 
to  leave  the  right  bank,  cross  the  river,  and  join  the 
remnant  of  the  British  army  a  few  miles  below  the 
American  camp.  This,  of  course,  was  joyful  news  to 
the  Americans,  who  immediately  re-took  possession  of 
their  marine  batteries. 

The  next  morning,  January  9th,  General  Lambert, 
after  making  some  frivolous  excuse  for  the  delayed  an 
swer,  agreed  to  General  Jackson's  terms  of  a  cessation 
of  arms  for  twenty-four  hours  to  bury  the  dead  and 
take  care  of  the  wounded. 

General  Morgan  soon  replaced  the  four  long  24- 
pounders  in  position  to  protect  General  Jackson's  lines 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  Beside  his  own  defences, 
he  had  the  assistance  of  the  brave  Commodore  Patter 
son,  with  his  ship  Louisiana. 


426  "        THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

In  addition  to  these  four  long  24's,  he  hud  several 
twelve  pounders,  and  was  now  fully  prepared  to  renew 
the  conflict,  should  the  enemy  conclude  to  make  another 
assault  upon  his  works.  • 

Although  the  enemy's  mortars  were  so  long  directed 
against  General  Jackson's  centre,  and  many  bombs  sent 
into  his  works,  it  is  surprising  how  little  harm  was 
effected  to  his  troops  by  the  bursting  of  these  missiles. 
As  the  firing  had  now  ceased  for  a  brief  space,  both 
parties  were  employed  in  burying  the  dead,  and  taking 
care  of  the  sick  and  wounded.  While  the  British  were 
occupied  in  burying  their  dead,  and  removing  the 
wounded  within  their  own  lines,  the  Americans  were 
busy  in  securing  their  numerous  prisoners.  Such  of 
them  as  were  in  a  condition  to  be  removed,  to  the 
amount  of  several  hundred,  were  sent  up  to  Natchez. 

The  English  sick  and  wounded  were  taken  to  the 
hospitals  and  barracks  in  New  Orleans,  where  every 
thing  was  done  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  to  make 
them  comfortable,  and  in  every  way  to  relieve  their 
sufferings  as  much  as  possible. 

A  call  was  made  on  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans  for 
mattresses  for  the  wounded  English,  when  four  hundred 
and  forty  were  voluntarily  furnished,  and  many  other 
necessary  articles  given  to  the  sufferers  by  the  humane 
and  philanthropic  inhabitants  of  that  city. 

Ai'ter  the  time  had  expired  for  the  cessation  of  hostil 
ities  between  the  belligerent  parties,  General  Jackson 
sent  from  his  ;  mp  a  detachment  of  troops  to  strengthen 
General  Morgan's  force  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river, 
and  with  his  usual  zeal  and  activity,  again  re-opened  a 
hot  fire  from  his  artillery  on  the  enemy's  camp  and  out 
posts.  He,  also,  by  scouts  and  every  other  means  in 
his  power,  continued  to  harass  and  annoy  the  invaders, 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         427 

until  their  final  retreat  within  their  old  camping  grounds, 
where  they  took  the  precaution  to  entrench  themselves. 

And  here  I  will  leave  them  for  the  present,  and  pro 
ceed  to  narrate  an  account  of  the  transactions  of  General 
Morgan  and  Commodore  Patterson,  who  were  located 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  nearly  opposite 
General  Jackson's  camp  and  strong  line  of  defence. 

It  will  be  recollected  by  my  readers,  that  Gen.  Jack 
son,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  Jan.,  ordered  Col. 
Davis,  with  a  detachment  of  Kentucky  militia,  four  hun 
dred  strong,  to  leave  his  camp,  proceed  to  New  Orleans, 
cross  the  river,  and  join  Gen.  Morgan's  forces,  to  defend 
their  camp  and  batteries.  By  a  subsequent  account  it- 
appears  that  these  four  hundred  men  proceeded  to  New 
Orleans,  as  they  were  ordered,  but  on  their  arrival  at 
that  city,  there  was  a  great  lack  of  muskets,  and  only 
sufficient  fire-arms  to  supply  two  hundred  of  them.  The 
remaining  two  hundred  therefore  returned  to  Gen.  Jack 
son's  camp  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  The  two 
hundred  that  crossed  the  river  state  that  they  had 
hardly  entered  into  the  lines  before  they  were  attacked 
by  a  strong  British  force,  and  obliged  to  retreat  to  the 
rear  before  superior  number*,  or  be  cut  to  pieces  and 
annihilated  without  rendering  any  service  to  their 
country.  In  direct  contradiction  to  this  statement,  Gen. 
Morgan  and  Com.  Patterson  avow  that  the  Kentucky 
militia  ignobly  fled  from  the  enemy,  and  by  their  act 
created  a  panic  among  the  other  troops,  which  enabled 
the  English  to  assault  and  capture  the  two  marine  bat 
teries  which  had  been  so  long  and  bravely  defended. 
Gen.  Jackson  also  adds  in  his  official  report  to  the  Sec 
retary  of  War,  of  the  defence  of  the  Americans  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  that  the  Kentucky  militia 
inglcriously  fled  before  the  enemy,  and  by  their  example 


428          THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

drew  after  them  the  remainder  of  Gen.  Morgan's  troops. 
In  another  account  of  the  battle,  he  said  :  "  Had  not  the 
militia  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  ignominiously  fled, 
the  entire  destruction  of  the  British  army  would  have 
been  inevitable. ;;* 

These  official  accounts  relating  to  the  conduct  of  the 
Kentucky  militia  were  of  course  very  mortifying  to  the 
principal  officers  connected  with  the  army  from  that 
State,  and  caused  much  controversy,  and  some  recrimi 
nation.  They  naturally  felt  a  deep  interest  for  the  zeal 
and  honor  of  their  troops,  and  were  extremely  mortified 
that  their  courage  should  be  impeached. 

The  account  of  their  sudden  retreat,  given  by  so 
many  reliable  witnesses,  cannot  be  doubted,  but  how  far 
they  were  justified  in  the  act,  must  be  left  with  expe 
rienced  military  men  to  decide. 

I  think  that  cool  and  deliberate  firmness  in  battle 
cannot  be  expected  from  raw  troops  unaccustomed  to  war. 

All  experience  proves  that  raw  militia  will  generally 
fight  pretty  well  behind  breast-works,  or  when  supported 
and  encouraged  by  regular  experienced  soldiers  ;  but  in 
the  open  field  they  can  rarely  be  made  to  stand  a  furious 
charge  of  the  bayonet  from  regularly  bred  infantry.  A 
raw  militiaman  flies  from  his  enemy  for  safety,  the 
veteran  faces  the  foe  upon  the  same  principle.  The 
latter  believes  there  is  less  risk  in  confronting  the  enemy 
than  in  flight  :  besides,  an  old  regular  feels  that  it  is 
highly  disgraceful  to  be  shot  in  the  back. 

As  a  general  principle,  all  men  have  an  instinctive 
fear  of  death,  and  it  is  only  by  training  and  habit  that 
they  overcome  that  fear  •  hence  it  follows  that  one  hun 
dred  veterans  in  the  open  field,  arc  more  reliable  than 

*  A   court  of  inquiry  was    subsequently  held  on   Col.   Davis.      After   strict 
investigation  of  all  the  transactions,  he  was  honorably  acquitted. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.          429 

double  their  number  of  raw  recruits,  who  have  never 
been  in  action. 

Military  men  accustomed  to  war  say,  that  numbers 
do  not  necessarily  constitute  success,  for  when  a  panic 
ensues,  the  greater  the  number  the  more  the  confusion 
in  a  general  rout. 

Gen.  Washington,  in  our  Revolutionary  War,  under 
stood  by  experience,  how  little  reliance  could  be  placed 
upon  raw  troops,  unaccustomed  to  war  in  the  open  field, 
and  was  therefore  obliged  to  place  them  by  the  side  of 
veteran  troops,  or  provide  them  with  the  pick-axe  and 
shovel,  to  throw  up  breast-works. 

Gen.  Jackson  wisely  acted  upon  the  same  principle  in 
this  successful-  campaign.  It  is  true  that  in  his  first 
battle  with  the  English  on  the  23d  of  Dec.,  he  attacked 
the  invaders  with  about  1,700  men,  having,  it  is  pre 
sumed,  only  about  half  their  number,  but  still  he  knew 
his  men.  They  were  mostly  regular  troops,  and  were 
aided  by  reliable,  high-minded  volunteers. 

He  also  knew  he  had  a  safe  retreat  higher  up  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi,  should  retreat  become  necessary. 

After  the  signal  defeat  of  the  English  on  the  8th,  they 
uniformly  acted  on  the  defensive,  entrenching  and  forti 
fying  their  camp,  while  diligently  preparing  to  leave  a 
country  where  they  had  met  with  nothing  but  defeat 
and  disappointment  from  the  first  attack  upon  the 
American  flotilla,  until  their  final  evacuation  of  the  soil 
they  had  so  ruthlessly  invaded.  The  only  advantage 
they  can  boast  of  was  the  capturing  of  Gen.  Morgan's 
marine  batteries,  which  they  could  not  retain,  and  were 
obliged  to  abandon  to  the  Americans  the  same  day  on 
which  they  were  taken.  The  whole  army,  from  the  8th, 
was  broken  down,  disorganized  and  dispirited.  Two 
of  their  principal  generals,  Packenham  and  Gibbs,  were 


430         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

killed.*  Gen.  Keane  was  severely  wounded  ;  and  of  the 
four  generals  who  led  the  invading  host,  but  one,  Gen. 
Lambert,  survived  to  take  command  of  the  retreating 
remnant  of  a  once  powerful  army. 

In  Europe,  a  large  portion  of  these  troops  had  gained 
the  appellation  of  Wellington's  Invincibles,  who  vainly 
boasted  th?,t  they  had  conquered  the  flower  of  the 
French  army,  when  commanded  by  Soult  and  other 
leading  French  marshals,  while  campaigning  in  Spain 
and  Portugal,  during  the  protracted  Peninsula  wars. 

Farther  comment  on  this  subject  is  unnecessary  :  suf 
fice  it  to  say  that  the  English  had  met  a  new  enemy  in 
a  nation  of  freemen.  Tn  writing  accounts  of  some  of 
our  naval  engagements  with  the  English,  I  have  re 
marked  that  they  had  found  a  new  enemy  in  the  Ameri 
cans  on  the  sea,  so  that  I  trust  I  may  add  without  vanity, 
that  they  had  also  found  a  new  enemy  in  the  Americans 
on  the  land. 

After  the  repulse  of  the  British  on  the  8th,  they  kept 
up  a  menacing  attitude,  and  made  frequent  indications 
as  if  they  intended  to  attack  the  American  lines,  while 
the  rear  of  their  army  was  constantly  retiring.  Though 
they  made  a  great  display  of  men  during  the  day,  and 
kept  up  large  fires  at  night,  they  were  secretly  embark 
ing  on  board  of  their  boats  all  their  sick  and  wounded, 
together  with  as  much  as  they  could  spare  of  their  heavy 
baggage  and  munitions  of  war.  •  From  their  boats  every 
thing  was  transferred  to  the  shipping  on  the  lakes- 
They  protected  themselves  with  batteries  to  cover  their 
~etreat,  while  they  strove  to  impress  upon  the  Ameri- 


*  A  London  newspaper,  dated  March  14th,  1815,  states:  "Yesterday  the  re 
mains  of  Generals  Packenham  and  Gibbs  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  in  the  Plantagenpt. 
74.  The  bodies  of  these  two  distinguished  generals  were  placed  in  leaden  coffins 
and  shi'lis,  nnd  taken  to  London  for  interment.'' 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         431 

cans  a  belief  that  they  were  waiting  for  a  reenforcement 
to  commence  a  new  campaign. 

The  Americans  had  no  fears  on  account  of  this  beaten 
and  dispirited  army.  Their  only  cause  for  fear  was  that 
a  British  fleet  might  be  able  to  pass  Fort  St.  Phillip, 
ascend  the  Mississippi,  and  attack  New  Orleans  from 
their  ships.  But  the  great  Ruler  of  the  Universe  had 
ordered  it  otherwise.  The  gallant  defender  of  this  Fort 
had  withstood  a  siege  of  nine  days.  After  receiving  in 
and  about  the  Fort  more  than  one  thousand  large  bomb 
shells,  exclusive  of  small  ones  and  shot,  with  the  loss  of 
only  two  killed  and  seven  wounded,  the  enemy  retired 
from  the  siege,  and  sailed  out  of  the  Mississippi  about 
the  last  of  January. 

On  the  18th  Jan.  all  the  American  prisoners  on  shore 
were  delivered  up,  an  exchange  having  been  previously 
agreed  upon.  Those  Americans  prisoners  on  board  of 
the  British  fleet  were  delivered  to  their  countrymen  at  the 
fort  at  Petite  Coquilles.  After  all  these  exchanges 
had  been  made,  the  Americans  had  an  excess  of  several 
hundred  English  prisoners- 

From  the  most  authentic  and  reliable  sources  I  can 
obtain,  I  have  arrived  at  the  following  conclusion, 
grounded  upon  the  opinions  of  Gen.  Jackson  and  his 
principal  officers.  They  estimated  the  loss  of  the  British 
from  their  first  attack  on  the  American  flotilla  until  the 
day  they  left  the  soil  of  Louisiana,  on  the  27th  of  Jan., 
comprising  a  space  of  forty-two  days,  by  battle,  sickness 
and  other  casualties,  to  be  at  least  four  thousand  men. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  all  the  various  battles,  did 
not  amount  to  more  than  four  hundred  and  eighty. 

On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  January,  all  that  re 
mained  of  the  British  army  precipitately  retreated  to 
their  boats,  leaving  behind  about  twenty  pieces  of  artil- 


432         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

lery,  which  were  spiked,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  to 
one  hundred  and  thirty  prisoners,  including  the  wounded, 
who  could  not  be  conveniently  removed. 

On  the  19th,  General  Jackson  ordered  Major  Hind 
with  a  body  of  cavalry  to  pursue  after  the  enemy,  and 
make  prisoners  of  such  as  could  be  overtaken,  and  also 
to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy  had  actually  embarked 
his  whole  force  to  evacuate  the  country.  This  valuable 
officer,  with  his  usual  zeal  and  activity,  pushed  forward 
and  made  about  ninety  more  prisoners.  The  most  of 
these  being  wounded  had  been  left  behind  with  a  sur 
geon  to  attend  them.  They  were  left  by  a  British  offi 
cer,  recommended  to  the  humanity  of  General  Jackson. 
They  were,  accordingly,  conveyed  to  his  head-quarters, 
and  treated  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  humanity. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  of  January  the  gallant  Mr. 
Shield,  purser  in  the  U.  S.  Navy,  succeeded,  with  a  party 
of  seamen,  in  capturing  several  British  boats  on  Lake 
Borgne,  and  made  fifty-four  prisoners,  among  whom 
were  four  officers. 

Had  General  Jackson  indulged  in  a  selfish  ambition 
for  his  own  personal  aggrandizement,  he  doubtless  could 
have  taken  or  destroyed  a  large  portion  of  this  retreat 
ing  army  ;  but  patriotism  and  humanity  forbade  it.  He 
had  already  harassed  and  killed  enough  of  the  invaders  t-j 
teach  them  a  salutary  lesson  which  I  hope  may  descend 
to  several  generations,  and  admonish  them  not  to  t}Tr«iii- 
nize  over  nations  less  powerful  than  themselves,  nor  to 
hold  their  enemies  too  cheap  in  the  scale  of  equality. 

It  was  of  course  joyful  and  very  gratifying  new? 
throughout  the  United  States  to  hear  that  our  soil  wa^ 
relieved  of  the  sacrilegious  feet  of  the  spoiler,  and  to 
know  that  the  American  arms  had  triumphed  so 
gloriously  at  the  winding  up  of  the  war.  The  picket 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         433 

guard,  whose  duty  it  was  to  watch  and  report  the  move 
ments  of  the  retreating  army,  stated  that  at  eleven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  January,  1815, 
the  last  British  vessel  conveying  troops  disappeared  from 
the  shores  of  Lake  Borgne,  steering  towards  Ship  Island 
in  the  Bay  of  St.  Louis,  to  secure  the  same  anchorage 
ground  they  had  left  on  the  10th"  of  December,  with 
the  sanguine  hope  of  invading  and  conquering  the  rich 
and  important  State  of  Louisiana.  In  my  estimation 
this  was  a  just  retribution  for  offensive  war.  Long 
may  an  all-wise  Being  punish  invaders  with  a  similar 
fate,  and  now,  methinks,  I  hear  a  thousand  American 
voices  repeat,  Amen  ! 

This  powerful  British  army  had  attempted  to  invade 
a  foreign  State.  They  had  fought  bravely,  had  endured 
every  kind  of  hardship,  and  suffered  more  than  it  is 
possible  to  relate.  A  large  portion  of  them  had  been 
either  killed  or  wounded  ;  they  had  gained  no  honor 
or  renown  ;  had  been  beaten  in  almost  every  attack 
upon  the  enemy.  Broken  down,  dispirited,  sick,  suffer 
ing,  disappointed  and  dejected,  they  were  now  return 
ing  home  to  be  treated  with  coldness  and  neglect  by 
their  own  countrymen.  As  they  had  gained  no  laurels, 
they  could  expect  no  sympathy. 

Yet  such  is  war  and  its  vain  glory  ;  and  when  unsuc 
cessful,  those  engaged  in  it  become  contemptible  even 
in  the  eyes  of  their  own  friends. 


434  THE    BATTLE    OF    NEW    ORLEANS 


REMARKS  ON  THE  MEMORABLE.  BATTLE  OF  THE  8TH  OF  JANUARY, 
1815,  WITH  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  TERRIBLE  CONSEQUENCES  THAT 
WOULD  HAVE  ENSUED  HAD  THE  BRITISH  SUCCEEDED  IN  STORM 
ING  GENERAL  JACKSON'S  DEFENCES  *AND  CAPTURING  NEW  OR 
LEANS. 

IT  is  now  more  than  forty-one  years  siuee  the  occur 
rence  of  this  ever  memorable  event,  and  the  most  of 
those  who  took  part  in  the  conflict  have  passed  away  ; 
still  there  are  enough  remaining,  as  well  as  the  faithful 
pages  of  history,  to  establish  the  truth  of  every  sente^e 
I  have  written  on  the  subject  of  the  assault  and  defeat 
of  the  English  in  their  last  effort  to  triumph  over  a  ft  v- 
people. 

Sufficient   time  has  now  elapsed  for  the   passions  r ' 
men  to  have  cooled  down,  so  that  they  can  take  a  a  I 
passionate  view  of  all  the  facts  in  the  case.     First,  it  i:- 
well  known  to  every  intelligent  American  that  the  Br-j- 
ish  officers  promised  their  soldiers  forty-eight  hours  -r 
indiscriminate  license   and  plunder  if  they  would  take 
New   Orleans.     Notwithstanding  this  statement  is  con 
tradicted  by  Mr.  Stewart,  an  English  traveller,  and  se  7- 
eral  British  generals,  they  can  never  make   the  intelli 
gent  portion  of  the  American  nation  believe  their  state 
ment,  after  the  diabolical  acts  practiced  by  them  at  Ba- 
dajoz,    Hampton,   and   Havre  de  Grace.      That  fact,  I 
trust,  will  not  be  denied,  even  by  the  honest  part  of  the 
English  themselves.     It  is  also  well  known  that  both 
officers  and  men  had  for  their  watchword,   u  Beauty  and 
booty."     The  meaning  of  that  motto  requires  no  expla 
nation  ;  it  speaks  for  itself.     Again,  it  must  be  recol 
lected  that  a  large  portion  of  these  same  men,  only  two 
years  prior  to  this  event,  had  despoiled  and  sacked  Ba- 
dajoz,  in  Spain  ;  an  account  of  which  may  be  found  re 
corded  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  this  work. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.          435 

My  readers  must  here  bear  in  mind  that  the  British 
army,  under  the  command  of  Lord  Wellington,  was  sent 
to  Spain  and  Portugal  as  friends  and  protectors,  to  as 
sist  them  against  the  invasion  of  the  French,  and  pre 
vent  that  nation  from  overrunning  their  country. 

And  now  I  ask,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  if 
these  ruthless  men  treated  their  friends  in  the  manner 
described  by  one  of  their  own  officers,  what  would  have 
been  the  shocking  scenes  enacted  by  these  hell-hounds, 
these  devils  incarnate,  if  let  loose  to  prey  upon  their 
avowed  enemies,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  ? 

The  heart  shudders  and  sickens  at  the  very  idea  of  such 
scenes  of  horror  ;  and  now  methinks  I  hear  some  of  the 
English  partisans  here  inquire  :  Are  you  not  mistaken  ? 
are  they  not  a  civilized,  Christian  nation,  and  would 
they  indeed  be  guilty  of  such  dreadful  deeds  as  you  have 
anticipated  ? 

I  again  answer,  did  they  not  perform  these  worse  than 
savage  acts  at  Hampton,  Badajoz,  and  other  places  un 
der  similar  circumstances  ?  How,  then,  can  any  one 
imagine  that  New  Orleans  would  have  escaped  a  similar 
fate. 

Suffice  then  to  say,  that  a  just  God  did  not  permit 
them  to  succeed  in  their  diabolical  intentions. 

Is  it,  then,  a  wonder  that  the  female  portion  of  New 
Orleans  should  erect  triumphal  arches  of  evergreen  bow 
ers  for  these  patriotic  heroes  to  pass  through,  and  that 
they  should  crown  General  Jackson  and  his  officers  with 
wreaths  and  garlands  of  flowers,  while  their  hearts  over 
flowed  with  kindness  and  gratitude  to  their  deliverers 
who  had  saved  them  from  pollution  and  ruin,  from  the 
very  dregs  of  hell. 

Were  I  an  Englishman,  while  reading  the  outrages 
committed  at  Badajoz  and  Hampton,  I  should  blush  for 


4:36         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

the  honor  of  my  country,  and  would  never  boast  of  its 
Christianity  or  civilization  so  long  as  the  military  portion 
of  the  kingdom  were  allowed  to  commit  such  horrid  acts 
against  other  nations. 

On  the  6th  of  March  an  express  arrived  from  Wash 
ington,  at  General  Jackson's  head-quarters,  Camp  Hen 
derson,  bringing  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  peace  was 
made  and  ratified  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain . 

After  the  general  peace  was  established  in  Europe, 
the  British  Government  planned  and  organized  this 
great  expedition  for  the  invasion  and  subjugation  of 
Louisiana,  and  sent  their  most  experienced  generals  and 
the  very  flower  of  their  army  to  carry  out  their  unjust 
project. 

And  now,  after  their  experiment  proved  a  total  failure, 
and  the  foul  invaders  have  been  beaten  and  driven  from 
our  soil,  I  ask,  what  American  can  read  the  account 
of  this  expedition,  and  follow  up  the  chain  of  its  pro 
ceedings,  link  by  link,  until  its  final  defeat,  and  not  see 
the  finger  of  God  aiding  those  who  were  fighting  to  de- 
tend  their  homes  and  the  honor  of  their  beloved  country  ? 

Commencing  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  his 
brave  coadjutors,  who,  I  repeat,  can  read  of  the  various 
battles  gained  in  defence  of  their  country,  and  not  feel 
a  profound  veneration  for  their  gallant  and  patriotic 
deeds  of  daring,  in  leading  on  the  citizen,  the  yeoman, 
the  artisan — in  fine,  every  description  of  freeman  ? 

Yes,  our  admiration  and  gratitude  should  extend  to 
every  individual  who  took  the  smallest  part  in  the  de 
fence  and  consequent  honor  of  our  country. 

For  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  heroic  Jackson,  one 
feels  his  heart  warm  up  with  admiration  and  gratitude, 
amounting  almost  to  idolatry  ;  for  under  God  he  was 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.         437 

the  Saviour  of  New  Orleans,  and  the  great  defender  of 
his  country's  honor  and  lasting  glory. 

This  brave  chief  was  always  in  the  midst  of  the  fire, 
exposed  on  every  side,  but  still  shielded  and  protected 
by  Divine  power  to  fulfil  his  mission  and  duty  to  his 
country,  and  second  only  to  Washington  as  a  lasting 
monument  to  perpetuate  the  American  name. 

"When  the  petty  jealousies  of  the  present  day  shall 
have  passed  into  oblivion,  the  names  of  these  great  and 
good  men  will  live  fresh  in  every  American  heart,  and 
millions  yet  unborn  will  live  to  bless  their  memory,  and 
will  teach  their  children's  children  to  lisp  and  sing  their 
praise. 

In  giving  this  sketch,  I  cannot  particularize  all  the 
gallant  leaders  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  repelling 
the  invaders.  Their  names  are  already  recorded  in  the 
pages  of  our  national  history,  and  their  eulogies  have 
been  written  by  abler  pens  than  mine.  Such  names  as 
Coffee,  Carroll,  Henderson,  Lauderdale,  Morgan,  Patter 
son,  Adair,  and  a  host  of  other  brave,  patriotic  defend 
ers  of  their  country,  will  ever  be  revered  by  the  wise 
and  good  of  all  nations. 

Yes,  their  names  will  be  perpetuated  as  a  countersign 
and  watchword  for  future  generations  to  rally  round, 
when  their  country  and  its  institutions  shall  be  in  danger 
of  foreign  aggression. 

It  would  be  a  pleasing  duty  for  the  writer  of  these 
pages  to  notice  a  greater  number  of  the  gallant  officers 
and  men  who  distinguished  themselves  in  these  various 
battles,  did  time  and  space  admit  of  it. 

Suffice  then  to  say,  that  they  are  one  and  all  entitled 
to  their  country's  everlasting  gratitude. 

An  American  officer  who  fought  in  these  various  bat 
tles  said  to  the  writer,  about  two  years  after  this  memo- 


438         THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

rable  event,  while  warming  up  with  enthusiasm,  "I 
trust  we  all  did  our  duty,  but  the  heroic  Jackson  is  in 
deed  a  glorious  fellow  ;  he  was  always  in  the  midst  of 
the  enemy's  fire,  and  exposed  on  every  side,  but  was 
miraculously  preserved  to  save  New  Orleans  from  the 
sacrilegious  pollution  of  the  enemy. 

11  Our  gallant  chief  was  almost  adored  by  the  soldiers 
of  the  whole  army,  and  no  one  can  behold  him  without 
feelings  of  admiration.'7 


TREA/TY    OF 

JAMES     MADISON, 

PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA, 

To  all  and  singular  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 

GREETING  : 

WHEREAS  a  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  between  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  his  Britannic  Majesty 
was  signed  at  Ghent,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  De 
cember,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fourteen,  by 
the  plenipotentiaries  respectively  appointed  for  that  pur 
pose  ;  and  the  said  treaty  having  been,  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
duly  accepted,  ratified,  and  confirmed,  on  the  seven 
teenth  day  of  February,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifteen  ;  and  ratified  copies  thereof  having  been  ex 
changed  agreeably  to  the  tenor  of  the  said  treaty,  which 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

TREATY  OF  PEACE  AND  AMITY  BETWEEN  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY 
AND  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

His  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United  States  of  Amer 
ica,  desirous  of  terminating  the  war  which  has  unhap 
pily  subsisted  between  the  two  countries,  and  of  restoring, 
upon  principles  of  perfect  reciprocity,  peace,  friendship, 
and  good  understanding  between  them,  have,  for  that 
purpose,  appointed  their  respective  plenipotentiaries, 
26 


440  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

that  is  to  say  :  his  Britannic  Majesty,  on  his  part,  has 
appointed  the  Right  Honorable  James,  Lord  Gainbier, 
late  Admiral  of  the  white,  now  Admiral  of  the  red 
squadron  of  his  Majesty's  fleet,  Henry  Goulburn,  Esq., 
a  member  of  the  Imperial  Parliament,  and  Under  Secre 
tary  of  State,  and  William  Adams,  Esq.,  doctor  of  civil 
laws  : — And  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof, 
has  appointed  John  Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard, 
Henry  Clay,  Jonathan  Russell  and  Albert  Gallatin,  citi 
zens  of  the  United  States,  who  afcer  a  reciprocal  com 
munication  of  their  respective  full  powers,  have  agreed 
upon  the  following  articles  : 


ARTICLE   THE   FIRST. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  universal  peace  between 
his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United  States,  and  be 
tween  their  respective  countries,  territories,  cities,  towns, 
and  people,  of  every  degree,  without  exception  of  places 
or  persons.  All  hostilities,  both  by  sea  and  land,  shall 
cease  as  soon  as  this  treaty  shall  have  been  ratified  by 
both  parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned.  All  territory, 
places,  and  possessions  whatsoever,  taken  from  either 
party  by  the  other,  during  the  war,  or  which  may  be 
taken  after  the  signing  of  this  treaty,  excepting  only  the 
Islands  hereinafter  mentioned,  shall  be  restored  without 
delay,  and  without  causing  any  destruction,  or  carrying 
away  any  of  the  artillery  or  other  public  property  ori 
ginally  captured  in  the  said  forts  or  places,  and  which 
shall  remain  therein  upon  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica 
tions  of  this  treaty,  or  any  slaves  or  other  private  pro 
perty.  And  all  archives,  records,  deeds,  and  papers, 
either  of  a  public  nature,  or  belonging  to  private  persons 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  441 

which,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  may  have  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  officers  of  either  party,  shall  be  as  far 
as  may  be  practicable,  forthwith  restored  and  delivered 
to  the  proper  authorities  and  persons  to  whom  they  re 
spectively  belong.  Such  of  the  Islands  in  the  Bay  of 
Passamaquoddy  as  are  claimed  by  both  parties,  shall 
remain  in  the  possession  of  the  party  in  whose  occupa 
tion  they  may  be  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the 
ratifications  of  this  treaty,  until  the  decision  respecting 
the  title  to  the  said  Islands  shall  have  been  made  in  con 
formity  with  the  fourth  article  of  this  treaty.  No  dis 
position  made  by  this  treaty,  as  to  such  possession  of 
•the  Islands  and  territories  claimed  by  both  parties,  shall, 
in  any  manner  whatever,  be  construed  to  affect  the  right 
of  either. 


ARTICLE   THE    SECOND. 

Immediately  after  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty  by 
both  parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  orders  shall  be 
sent  to  the  armies,  squadrons,  officers,  subjects  and  citi 
zens,  of  the  two  powers  to  cease  from  all  hostilities  :  And 
to  prevent  all  causes  of  complaint  which  might  arise  on 
account  of  the  prizes  which  might  be  taken  at  sea  after 
the  said  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  it  is  reciprocally 
agreed,  that  all  vessels  and  effects  which  may  be  taken 
after  the  space  of  twelve  days  from  the  said  ratifications, 
upon  all  parts  of  the  coast  of  North  America,  from  the 
latitude  of  twenty-three  degrees  north,  to  the  latitude 
of  fifty  degrees  north,  and  as  far  eastward  in  the  Atlan 
tic  Ocean,  as  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of  west  longitude 
from  the  meridian  of  Greenwich,  shall  be  restored  to 
each  side  :  That  the  time  shall  be  thirty  days  in  all  other 
parts  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  north  of  the  equinoctial  line 


442  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

or  equator,  and  the  same  time  for  the  British  and  Irish 
Channels,  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  all  parts  of  the 
West  Indies  :  forty  days  for  the  North  Seas,  for  the  Bal 
tic,  and  for  all  parts  of  the  Mediterranean  :  sixty  days 
for  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  of  the  equator  as  far  as 
the  latitude  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  :  ninety  days  for 
every  part  of  the  world  south  of  the  equator  :  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  days  for  all  other  parts  of  the  world, 
without  exception. 


ARTICLE   THE   THIRD. 

All  prisoners  of  war  taken  on  either  side,  as  well  by 
land  as  by  sea,  shall  be  restored  as  soon  as  practicable 
after  the  ratification  of  this  treaty,  as  hereinafter  men 
tioned,  on  their  paying  the  debts  which  they  may  have 
contracted  during  their  captivity.  The  two  contracting 
parties  respectively  engage  to  discharge  in  specie,  the 
advances  which  may  have  been  made  by  the  other  for 
the  sustenance  and  maintenance  of  such  prisoners. 


ARTICLE   THE   FOURTH. 

"Whereas  it  was  stipulated  by  the  second  article  in  the 
treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
three,  between  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United 
States  of  America,  that  the  boundary  of  the  United 
States  should  comprehend  all  Islands  within  twenty 
leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States, 
and  lying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  east  from  the 
points  where  the  aforesaid  boundaries,  between  Nova 
Scotia,  on  the  one  part,  and  East  Florida  on  the  other, 
shall  respectively  touch  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  At 
lantic  Ocean,  excepting  such  Islands  as  now  are,  or 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  443 

heretofore  have  been,  within  the  limits  of  Nova  Scotia  : 
and  whereas  the  several  Islands  in  the  Bay  of  Passama- 
quoddy,  which  is  part  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  the 
Island  of  Grand  Menan  in  the  said  Bay  of  Fundy,  are 
claimed  by  the  United  States  as  being  comprehended 
within  their  aforesaid  boundaries,  which  said  Islands  are 
claimed  as  belonging  to  his  Britannic  Majesty,  as  having 
been  at  the  time  of,  and  previous  to,  the  aforesaid  treaty 
of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three  within 
the  limits  of  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia  :  In  order, 
therefore,  finally  to  decide  upon  these  claims,  it  is  agreed 
that  they  shall  be  referred  to  two  commissioners,  to  be 
appointed  in  the  following  manner,  viz.,  one  commis 
sioner  shall  be  appointed  by  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and 
one  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof,  and  the 
said  two  commissioners  so  appointed  shall  be  -sworn  im 
partially  to  examine  and  decide  upon  the  said  claims 
according  to  such  evidence  as  shall  be  laid  before  them 
on  the  part  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  of  the  United 
States  respectively.  The  said  commissioners  shall  meet 
at  St.  Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  and 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such  other  place  or  places 
as  they  shall  think  fit.  The  said  commissioners  shall, 
by  a  declaration  or  report  under  their  hands  and  seals, 
decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting  parties  the  seve 
ral  Islands  aforesaid  do  respectively  belong,  in  con 
formity  with  the  true  intent  of  the  said ;  treaty  of  peace 
of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three-  And 
if  the  said  commissioners  shall  agree  in  their  decision, 
both  parties  shall  consider  such  decision  as  final  and  con 
clusive.  It  is  further  agreed,  that  in  the  event  of  the 
two  commissioners  differing  upon  all  or  any  of  the  mat 
ters  so  referred  to  them,  or  in  the  event  of  both  or 


444  THE     AMERICAN      FIUVATEERS.  [1815 

either  of  the  said  commissioners  refusing,  or  declining, 
or  wilfully  omitting,  to  act  as  such,  they  shall  make, 
jointly  or  separately,  a  report  or  reports,  as  well  to  the 
government  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  as  to  that  of  the 
United  States,  stating  in  detail  the  points  on  which  they 
differ,  and  the  grounds  upon  which  their  respective 
opinions  have  heen  formed,  or  the  grounds  upon  which 
they,  or  either  of  them,  have  so  refused,  declined,  or 
omitted  to  act.  And  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  the  go 
vernment  of  the  United  States  hereby  agree  to  refer  the 
report  or  reports  of  the  said  commissioners,  to  some 
friendly  sovereign  or  state,  to  be  then  named  for  that 
purpose,  and  who  shall  be  requested  to  decide  on  the 
differences  which  may  be  stated  in  the  -said  report  or 
reports,  or  upon  the  report  of  one  commissioner,  toge 
ther  with  the  grounds  upon  which  the  other  commis 
sioner  shall  have  refused,  declined,  or  omitted  to  act,  as 
the  case  maybe.  And  if  the  commissioner  so  refusing, 
declining,  or  omitting  to  act,  shall  also  wilfully  omit  to 
state  the  grounds  upon  which  he  has  so  done,  in  such 
manner  that  the  said  statement  may  be  referred  to  such 
friendly  sovereign  or  state,  together  with  the  report  of 
such  other  commissioner,  then  such  sovereign  or  state 
shall  decide  ex  parte  upon  the  said  report  alone.  And 
his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  government  of  the  United 
States  engage  to  consider  the  decision  of  some  friendly 
sovereign  or  state  to  be  such  and  conclusive  on  all  the 
matters  so  referred. 


ARTICLE   THE    FIFTH. 

Whereas  neither  that  point  of  the  high  lands  lying 
due  north  from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  and 
designated  in  the  former  treaty  of  peace  between  the 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  44.0 

two  powers  as  the  northwest  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  now 
the  uorth-westermost  head  of  Connecticut  river,  has  yet 
been  ascertained  ;  and  whereas  that  part  of  the  boun 
dary  line  between  the  dominion  of  the  two  powers 
which  extends  from  the  source  of  the  river  St  Croix 
directly  north  to  the  above-mentioned  north-west  angle 
of  Nova  Scotia,  thence  along  the  said  highlands  which 
divide  those  rivers  that  empty  themselves  into  the  river 
St.  Lawrence  from  those  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  the  north-westermost  head  of  Connecticut 
river,  thence  down  along  the  middle  of  the  river  to  the 
forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  thence  by  a  line  due 
west  on  said  latitude  until  it  strikes  the  river  Iroquois 
or  Cataraguy  has  not  been  surveyed  : — It  is  agreed  that 
for  these  several  purposes  two  commissioners  shall  be 
appointed,  sworn,  and  authorized,  to  act  exactly  in  the 
manner  directed  with  respect  to  those  mentioned  in  the 
next  preceding  article,  unless  otherwise  specified  in  the 
present  article.  The  said  commissioners  shall  meet  at 
St.  Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  .and 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such  other  place  or 
places  as  they  shall  think  fit.  The  said  commissioners 
shall  have  power  to  ascertain  and  determine  the  points 
above-mentioned,  in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  the 
said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three,  and  shall  cause  the  boundary  aforesaid, 
from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix  to  the  river  Iro 
quois  or  Cataraguy,  to  be  surveyed  and  marked  accord 
ing  to  the  said  provisions.  The  said  commissioners  shall 
make  a  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and  annex  to  it  a 
declaration  under  their  hands  and  seals,  certifying  it  to 
be  the  true  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and  particular 
izing  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  north-west  angle 
of  Nova  Scotia,  of  the  north-westermost  head  of  Connec- 


446  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815. 

fcicut  river,  and  of  such  other  points  of  the  same  boun 
dary  as  they  may  deem  proper.  And  both  parties  agree 
to  consider  such  map  and  declaration  as  finally  and  con 
clusively  fixing  the  said  boundary.  And  in  the  event  of 
the  said  two  commissioners  differing,  or  both,  or  either 
of  them,  refusing,  or  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting  to 
act,  such  reports,  declarations,  or  statements,  shall  be 
made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  reference  to 
a  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made,  in  all  re 
spects  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  con 
tained,  and  in  as  full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein 
repeated. 

ARTICLE  THE   SIXTH. 

AVhereas,  by  the  former  treaty  of  peace  that  portion 
of  the  boundary  of  the  United  States  from  the  point 
where  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  strikes  the 
river  Iroquois  or  Cataraguy  to  the  Lake  Superior,  was 
declared  to  be  "  along  the  middle  of  said  river  into  Lake 
Ontario,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it  strikes 
the  communication  by  water,  between  that  Lake  and 
Lake  Erie,  thence  along  the  middle  of  said  communica 
tion  into  Lake  Erie,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake 
until  it  arrives  at  the  water  communication  into  the  Lake 
Huron,  thence  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  to  the 
water  communication  between  that  lake  and  Lake  Su 
perior."  And  whereas  doubts  have  arisen  what  was 
the  middle  of  said  river,  lakes  and  water  communications, 
and  whether  certain  Islands  lying  in  the  same  were 
within  the  dominions  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  or  of 
the  United  States  :  In  order,  therefore,  finally  to  decide 
these  doubts,  they  shall  be  referred  to  two  commission 
ers,  to  be  appointed,  sworn,  and  authorised  to  act  ex 
actly  in  the  manner  directed  with  respect  to  those  men- 


1815.]  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  447 

tioned  in  the  next  preceding  article,  unless  otherwise 
specified  in  this  present  article.  The  said  commission 
ers  shall  meet,  in  the  first  instance,  at  Albany,  in  the 
State  of  Few  York,  and  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to 
such  other  place  or  places  as  they  shall  think  fit :  The 
said  commissioners  shall,  by  a  report  or  declaration,  un 
der  their  hands  and  seals,  designate  the  boundary 
through  the  said  river,  lakes,  and  water  communications, 
and  decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting  parties  the 
several  Islands  lying  within  the  said  river,  lakes,  and 
water  communications,  do  respectively  belong,  in  con 
formity  with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three.  And  both 
parties  agree  to  consider  such  designation  and  decision 
as  final  and  conclusive.  And  in  the  event  of  the  said 
two  commissioners  differing,  or  both,  or  either  of  them, 
refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting  to  act,  such  re 
ports,  declarations  or  statements,  shall  be  made  by  them, 
or  either  of  them,  and  such  reference  to  a  friendly  sover 
eign  or  state  shall  be  made  in  all  respects  as  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  contained,  and  in  as 
full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 


ARTICLE    THE    SEVENTH. 

It  is  further  agreed  that  the  said  two  last  mentioned 
Commissioners,  after  they  shall  have  executed  the  duties 
assigned  to  them  in  the  preceding  article,  shall  be  and 
they  are  hereby  authorized,  upon  their  oaths  impartially 
to  fix  and  determine,  according  to  the  true  intent  of  the 
said  treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three,  that  part  of  the  boundary  between  the  do- 
m'nions  of  the  two  powers,  which  extends  from  the 
water  communication  between  Lake  Huron  and  Lake 


448  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


Superior,  to  the  most  north-western  point  of  the  lake 
of  the  Woods,  to  decide  to  which  of  the  two  parties  the 
several  Islands  lyin^in  the  lakes,  water  communications, 
and  rivers,  forming  the  said  boundary,  do  respectively 
belong,  in  conformity  with  the  true  intent  of  the  said 
treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three  ;  and.  to  cause  such  parts  of  the  said  boun 
dary,  as  require  it',  to  be  surveyed  and  marked.  The 
said  commissioners  shall,  by  a  report  or  declaration  un 
der  their  hands  and  seals,  designate  the  boundary  afore 
said,  state  their  decision  on  the  points  thus  referred  to 
them,  and  particularize  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the 
most  north-western  point  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  and 
of  such  other  parts  of  the  said  boundar}^  as  they  may 
deem  proper.  And  both  parties  agree  to  consider  such 
designation  and  decision  as  final  and  conclusive.  And, 
in  the  event  of  the  said  two  commissioners  differing,  or 
both,  .or  either  of  them  refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully 
omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations,  or  statements, 
shall  be  made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  re 
ference  to  a  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made  in 
all  respects,  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is 
contained,  and  in  as  full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was 
herein  repeated. 

ARTICLE   THE    EIGHTH. 

i'  ' 

The  several  boards  of  two  commissioners  mentioned  in 
the  four  preceding  articles,  shall  respectively  have  power 
to  appoint  a  secretary,  and  to  employ  such  surveyors  or 
other  persons  as  they  shall  judge  necessary.  Duplicates 
of  all  their  respective  reports,  declarations,  statements 
and  decisions,  and  of  their  accounts,  and  of  the  journal 
of  their  proceedings,  shall  be  delivered  by  them  to  the 
agents  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  to  the  agents  of  the 


1815.J  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  449 

United  States,  who  may  be  respectively  appointed  and 
authorized  to  manage  the  business  on  behalf  of  their  re 
spective  governments.  The  said  commissioners  shall  be 
respectively  paid  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  agreed  be 
tween  the  two  contracting  parties,  such  agreement  being 
to  be  settled  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica 
tions  of  this  treaty.  And  all  other  expenses  attending 
the  said  commissioners  shall  be  defrayed  equally  by  the 
two  parties.  And  in  the  case  of  death,  sickness,  resig 
nation,  or  necessary  absence,  the  place  of  every  such 
commissioner  respectively  shall  be  supplied  in  the  same 
manner  as  such  commissioner  was  first  appointed,  and 
the  new  commissioner  shall  take  the  same  oath  or  affirm 
ation,  and  do  the  same  duties.  It  is  further  agreed  be 
tween  the  two  contracting  parties,  that  in  case  any  of 
the  islands  mentioned  in  any  of  the  preceding  articles, 
which  were  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  parties  prior 
to  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  between  the 
two  countries,  should,  by  the  decision  of  any  of  the 
boards  of  commissioners  aforesaid,  or  of  the  sovereign 
or  state  so  Deferred  to,  as  in  the  four  next  preceding 
articles  contained,  fall  within  the  dominions  of  the  other 
party,  all  grants  of  land  made  previous  to  the  com 
mencement  of  the  war  by  the  party  having  had  such 
possession,  shall  be  as  valid  as  if  such  island  or  islands, 
had  by  such  decision  or  decisions,  been  adjudged  to  be 
within  the  dominions  of  the  party  having  had  such  pos 
session. 

ARTICLE   THE   NINTH. 

The  United  States  of  America  engage  to  put  an  end 
immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty, 
to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  nations  of  Indians, 


450  THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

with  whom  they  may  be  at  war  at  the  time  of  such  rati 
fication  ;  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or 
nations,  respectively,  all  the  possessions,  rights  and  pri 
vileges,  which  they  may  have  enjoyed  or  been  entitled 
to  in  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eleven,  previous 
to  such  hostilities :  Provided  always,  that  such  tribes  or 
nations  shall  agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities,  against 
the  United  States  of  America,  their  citizens  and  subjects, 
upon  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified 
to  such  tribes  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly. 
And  his  Britannic  Majesty  engages,  on  his  part,  to  put 
an  end  immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present 
treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  nations  of  In 
dians  with  whom  he  may  be  at  war  at  the  time  of  such 
ratification,  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or 
nations,  respectively  all  the  possessions,  rights,  and  pri 
vileges,  which  they  may  have  enjoyed  or  been  entitled 
to,  in  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eleven,  previous 
to  such  hostilities :  Provided  always,  that  such  tribes  or 
nations  shall  agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities  against 
his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  his  subjects,  upon  the 
ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified  to  such 
tribes  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly. 


ARTICLE   THE   TENTH. 

Whereas  the  traffic  in  slaves  is  irreconcilable  with  the 
principles  of  humanity  and  justice,  and  whereas  both  his 
Majesty  and  the  United  States  are  desirous  of  continu 
ing  their  efforts  to  promote  its  entire  abolition,  it  is  here 
by  agreed  that  both  the  contracting  parties  shall  use 
their  best  endeavors  to  accomplish  so  desirable  an 
object. 


1815.J  THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS.  451 


ARTICLE   THE   ELEVENTH. 

This  treaty  when  the  same  shall  have  been  ratified  on 
both  sides,  without  alteration  by  either  of  the  contract 
ing  parties,  and  the  ratifications  mutually  exchanged, 
shall  be  binding  on  both  parties,  and  the  ratifications 
shall  be  exchanged  at  Washington,  in  the  space  of  four 
months  from  this  day,  or  sooner  if  practicable. 

In  faith  whereof,  we  the  respective  plenipoten 
tiaries  have  signed  this  treaty,  and  have 
thereunto  affixed  our  seals. 

Done  in  triplicate,  at  Ghent,  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  fourteen. 

(L.  s,)  GAMBIER, 

(L.  s.)  HENRY  GOULBURN, 

(L.  s.)  WILLIAM  ADAMS, 

(L.  s.)  JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS, 

(L.  s.)  J.  A.  BAYARD, 

(L.  s.)  H.  CLAY, 

(L.  s.)  JONA.  RUSSELL, 

(L.  s.)  ALBERT  GALLATIN. 

Now  therefore,  to  the  end  that  the  said  treaty  of  peace 
and  amity  may  be  observed  with  good  faith,  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  I,  James  Madison,  president  as 
aforesaid,  have  caused  the  premises  to  be  made  public 
and  I  do  hereby  enjoin 'all  persons  bearing  office,  civil 
or  military,  within  the  United  States,  and  all  others, 


452  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  [1815 

citizens  or  inhabitants  thereof,  or  being  within  the  same, 
faithfully  to  observe  and  fulfil  the  said  treaty  and  every 
clause  and  article  thereof. 


In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  caused  the  seal 
of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed  to  these 
(L.  s.)  presents,    and   signed   the    same   with  my 

hand. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  eigh 
teenth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fif 
teen,  and  of  the  sovereignty  and  indepen 
dence  of  the  United  States  the  thirty- 
ninth. 

JAMES    MADISON. 

By  the  President, 

JAMES  MONROE,  Acting  Secretary  of  State. 


APPENDIX. 


AN  ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OF  PRIVATEERS  AND  LETTERS-OF-MARQUE,  WITH  THX 

NAMES   OF   THE   CAPTAINS,   AND   WHERE   BELONGING,  IN 

THE   YEARS   1812,  '13,  AND  '14. 


Denomination.                        Xames. 

Commanders.                        Where  Belonging. 

PrivaLeer,                America, 

.Chever, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  America, 

Richardson, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Argus, 

Snow, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Atlas, 

Maffet, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                 Alfred,  **•' 

Williams, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Alexander, 

Crowningshield, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Antelope, 

Batchlor, 

Newburyport. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Adeline, 

Cray  croft, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                Anaconda, 

Shaler, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Amelia, 

Adams, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                Active, 

Patterson, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                Arrow, 

Conklin, 

New  York. 

Prirateer,                Argo, 

Smith, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Avon, 

Snow  &  Nye, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Abaellino, 

Wyer, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Buckskin, 

Bray, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Bona, 

Dameron, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Bunker  Hill 

,     Lewis, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Benj.  Franklin,  Ingersol, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Black-Joke, 

Brown, 

New  York. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Baltimore, 

Fanning  &  Veazey, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Bellona, 

Jenkins, 

Philadelphia 

Letter-of-Marque,  Brutus, 

Austin, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                Blakely, 

Uran, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                Blockade, 

Bristol. 

Privateer,                 Catherine, 

Burnham, 

Boston. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Criterion, 

Waterman, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                £iomet* 

Boyle, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 China, 

New  York. 

(453) 


454 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


Denomination. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

1  rivateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Lett  er-of-Ma  r  qu  e , 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Lctter-of-Mar  q  u  e, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer,  ^  i%,- 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 


Commanders. 

Newman, 

Almeda, 

Brown, 

Boyle, 

Upton, 

Uozzens, 

Wm.  Wyer, 


Names. 

Clara, 

Caroline, 

Com.  Decatur, 

Chasseflj, 

Cossack, 

Cadet, 

Curlew, 

Charles  Morris,  Russell, 

Cossack, 

Chas.  Stewart,  Purcell, 

Cumberland, 

Champlainj 

Castigator, 

Dolphin, 

Dolphin, 

Dromo, 

Decatur, ; 

Decatur,  • 


Where  Belonging. 

Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
Baltimore. 
Salem. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Boston. 
Baltimore. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
Baltimore. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Newburyport. 
Charleston. 
Salem. 
New  York. 
Salem. 
Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 

Killeran,  Bacon  &  Porter,  Portland. 
Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
Charleston,  v 
New  York. 
Salem. 
Weems,  Baltimore. 

Charleston.!/ 

Salem. 

Salem. 


Stafford, 

Endicot, 

Cooper, 

Nickols, 

Diron, 

Dart,  Davis, 

Divided  we  fall  Cropsey, 

Diomede,  Briggs, 

Delila, 

Delisle,  Taylor, 

DashT; 

Dash,  Carroway, 

DashJ  Wilson 

David  Porter,  Coggeshall, 

Diamond,          Davidson, 

Eagle, 

Eagle,  Beaufon, 

Eldridge  Gerry, 

Expedition, 

Eliza, 

Enterprize, 


Fame, 

Fair-Trader, 

Fox, 

Fox, 

Fly, 


Morgan, 

Webb, 

Green, 

Morgan, 

Jack, 


Boston. 
Salem. 
Baltimore. 


Handy  and  Brown,  Portsmouth 
Salem. 


See  not*  on  page  472. 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


455 


Denomination.                    Names.                         Commanders.                  Where  Belonging. 

Privateer,                 Frolic,                Odiorne, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Flirt,                   Storer, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Fairy,                Dickinson, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Falcon,               George  Wilson, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                Gov.  McKean,  Lucet, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                 Globe,                 Murphy, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 G.Washington, 

Norfolk. 

Privateer,                GexuAriQjatxang,Reid, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Gen.  Putnam,   Evans, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Growler,            Lindsey, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Gossamer,          Goodrich, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Gallinipper,       Wellmari, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Gov.Tompkins  Shaler, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Grand  Turk,     Breed  &  Green, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                Gov.  Gerry,      Hitch  &  Braley, 

Fair  Haven. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Gypsey,             Bridges  &  Story, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Gov.  Plumer,    Mudge, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer,                 Guerriere,          Barnham, 

Portsmouth. 

Letter-of-Marque,  G^aj^j^s*           Murphy, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Gen.  Stark,       Waterman, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Galloway,           Tripr», 

New  York. 

Privateer,                George  Little,  Spooner, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                High  Flyer,      Gavet, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Hunter,              Upton, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Holkar,              Rowland, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Ryder  Ali,        Thorndike, 

Boston. 

Letter-of-Marque,  He££i                 Waterman, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Hornet,              Frost, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Hero, 

Newbern. 

Privateer,                 Hawk,                Tripp, 

Washington.N.C 

Privateer,                Hazard,              Le  Chantier, 

New  York. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Henry  Guilder,  Newson, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Harrison,            H.  Perry, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Harlequin,          E.  D.  Brown, 

Portsmouth. 

Letter-of-Marque,  jlerald, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Harpy,               Nichols, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Hope,                 Boden  &  Morris, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                 Industry,           Rice, 

Marblehead. 

Privateer,                Isaac  Hull,       D.  Hull, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Invincible, 

New  York. 

456 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


Uemomlration.                      Names.                              Com-nandcrs.                 Where   Belonging 

Privateer,                 Ino,                     White, 

Boston. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Ida,                      Mantor, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                Jefferson,           Kehew, 

Salem. 

Crowning-shield  ) 
Privateer,                Jolm,                     and  Fai).fie]d    ] 

Salem. 

Privateer,                John  &  George, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                Joel  Barlow,      Ohamplain, 

New  London. 

Privateer,                 Jacjis^aj^ulte,  Johnson  &  Miller, 

New  York 

Letter-of-Marque,  Jonquill,             Carman, 

New  York. 

Letter-  of-Marque,  James  Monroe,  Skinner, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Joseph  &MaryWescott, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Jacob  Jones,    Roberts, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Kemp,                Jacobs, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Leo,                    J.    H.  Hewes, 

Boston. 

Privateer,  '               Lion,                   Stacey, 

Marblehead. 

Privateer,                 Leander,            Tobey, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Leader, 

Providence. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Leo,                     Coggeshall, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Liberty,             Pratt, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Lady  Madison, 

Charleston.^ 

Privateer,                 Lovely  Lass, 

Wilmington.    ' 

Privateer,                 Lovely  Cordelia, 

Charleston.^ 

Privateer,                Lark,                  Banker, 

New  York. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Lottery,              Southcomb, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Ludlow,              Mudge, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer,                 Lawrence,          Veasy, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                 Leach, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Little  George,  Spooner,  Jr., 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Madison,            Elwell, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Marengo,            Redois, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Matilda,             Allen, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                Mars,\                Libbey, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer,                 Mars,                  Bulckley, 

New  London, 

Privateer,                Mars,                  Brooks, 

Portland. 

Privateer,                 Mars,, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Mary  Ann, 

Charleston.^ 

Privateer,                Montgomery,     Stout, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                Macedonian,      P.  Townsend, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer,                 Macedonian,      J    H.  Davis, 

Boston. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Midas,                 Thompson, 

Baltimore. 

TIIE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


457 


Denomination.             Names.                         Commanders.                   Where  Belonging. 

Privateer, 

Mammoth, 

Franklin, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Macdonough, 

Rhode  Island* 

Privateer, 

Macdonough,    Chas.  Goodirch, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Morgianna, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

JJpnsjoeh, 

Levely, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Nonpareil, 

Charleston.^ 

Privateer, 

Nancy, 

Smart, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Ned, 

Dawson, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Orlando, 

Babson, 

Gloucester. 

Privateer, 

Owl, 

Duncan, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Orders  in      ) 
Council,       j 

Howard, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Polly, 

Handy, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Paul  Jones, 

Hazzard, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Patriot, 

Merihew, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Poor  Sailor, 

Charleston.  ^ 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Pilot, 

Clarke, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Patapsco, 

Mortimer, 

Baltimore. 

Prince  de    ) 

Privateer, 

Neufchatel,    f 

Ordronaux, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Providence, 

Hopkins, 

Newport. 

Privateer, 

Perry, 

Coleman, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Pike, 

Bolton, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Portsmouth, 

John  Sinclair  & 

(•  Portsmouth. 

T.  M.  Shaw, 

j 

Privateer, 

Rapid, 

Charleston.  v/ 

Privateer, 

Rossie, 

Barney, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Rosamond, 

Camp  an, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Revenge, 

Sinclair, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Revenge, 

Miller, 

Baltimore 

Privateer, 

Revenge, 

Butler, 

Philadelphia 

Privateer, 

Regulator, 

Mansfield, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Rover, 

Ferris, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Right  of  Search 

,, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Retaliation, 

Newton, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Rolla, 

Dooley, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Rambler^ 

Edes, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Rattlesnake, 

Maffet, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer, 

Roger, 

Quarles, 

Norfolk.   X 

Privateer, 

Resolution. 

A.  Jones, 

Baltimore 

458 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


DemominaUon. 

Names. 

Commandtrs.                 Where   Belonging. 

Privateer, 

Reindeer, 

Snow, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Ranger, 

N.  Foster, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Snow-bird, 

Hitor, 

Marblehead. 

Privateer, 

Sword-fish, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Spencer, 

Morse, 

Philadelphia. 

Letter-of-Msrq  ue, 

Siro, 

Gray, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Sarah  Ann, 

Moon, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Saratoga, 

Champlin, 

New  York.       ; 

Privateer, 

Saucy  Jack, 

Chazel, 

Charleston.  * 

Privateer, 

Sparrow, 

Burch, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,    ' 

Shadow, 

Taylor, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer, 

Swallow, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Spy, 

New  Orleans.  • 

Privateer, 

Snap  Dragon, 

0.  Burnes, 

Newbern. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Sabine, 

Barnes, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Swiftsure, 

Privateer, 

Surprise, 

Barnes, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Surprise, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Scourge, 

Nicoll, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Shark, 

New  York 

Privateer, 

Syren, 

Ross,  Jr., 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Scorpion, 

Osborn, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marquc, 

Sphynx, 

Boston. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Sine-qua-non, 

Pond,  • 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Sine-qua-non, 

Luce, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Saranac, 

I)  a  shield, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Science, 

Fernald, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer, 

_SpiOlr_e, 

Miller, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Squando, 

W.  Watson, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer, 

Teazer, 

Dobson, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Tom, 

Wilson, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Turn-over, 

Southmead, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Trasher, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Transit, 

Richardson, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Two  Brothers, 

Tongar, 

New  Orleans.*^ 

Privateer, 

Thorn, 

Hooper, 

Marblehead. 

Privateer, 

Thomas, 

Shaw, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer, 

Tartar, 

King, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

True  blooded  ) 

Hailey  &  Oxnaid 

Yankee,       j 

See  note  on  page  472. 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


459 


Denomination.                        Names.                       Commanders.                Where  Belonging. 

Privateer,                Terrible, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                 Timothy  Pickering, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Tuckalioe,         Wilson, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                Tomahawk,       Besom, 

/> 

Privateer,                Two  Friends, 

Barnstable. 

Privateer,                 Unit'd  we  stand  Story, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Union,                Hicks, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Viper, 

Salem. 

Privateer,                Volunteer,          Inotts  &  Cobb, 

New  York. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Viper,                 Dithurbide, 

New  York. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Volant,               Perley, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                 Wily  Reynard,  Riggs, 

Boston. 

Privateer,                Wasp, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer,                Wasp,                Taylor, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                Wasp,                 Erving, 

Salem. 

Letter-of-Marque,  Water  Witch, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Water  Witch, 

Bristol. 

Privateer,                Whig,                 Penrice, 

Baltimore 

Privateer,                 Warrior,             Champlin, 

New  York. 

Privateer.                Xebec  Ulto,-,      Cock, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,                Yankee,              Wilson  &  Smith, 

Bristol. 

Privateer,                Young  Eagle, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                 Yorktown,          Story, 

New  York. 

Privateer.                Young  Teazer,  Dobson, 

New  York. 

Privateer,                Young  Wasp,    Hawley, 

Philadelphia, 

Privateer,                York,                  Staples, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer,               Yankee  Lass,    Churchill, 

460  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

THE  whole  number  of  privateers  and  private-armed 
ships  that  were  commissioned  as  cruising  vessels, 
and  all  others  actively  engaged  in  commerce  during  our 
war  with  Great  Britain,  in  the  years  1812,  1813  and 
1814,  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  sail.  They  be 
longed  to  the  different  ports  in  the  United  States,  as 
follows  : 

From  Baltimore,  . 58 

«     New  York, 55 

"     Salem,         .  40 

"     Boston, 31 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  was  owned  in  Boston,  but 

fitted  out  of  France, 1 

Fiom  Philadelphia, 14 

"     Portsmouth,  N.  H., 11 

"     Charleston, 10 

••     Marblehead,* 4 

"     Bristol,  R.  I.,   •*;;:. -: 4 

•     Portland, 

"     Newburyport,    .......       2 

"     Norfolk, 2 

4     Newbern,  N.  0., 2 

"     New  Orleans, 2 

'v     New  London, 1 

'     Newport,  R.  I., 1 

"     Providence,  R.  I.,  .         .         .         I         ."     1 

"'     Barnstable,  Mass.,  ...... 

Fair  Haven,  Mass., J 

'•     Gloucester,  Mass.,  ......  1 

"     Washington  City, 1 

«     Wilmington,  N.  0., 1 

From  places  not  designated,  probably  small  vessels  belong 
ing  to  eastern  ports,        ...... 

•         Total,         ...         250 

*  Since  the  first  edition  of  this  work  was  published,  I  find  that  in  lieu  of  four  privateers  behng- 
ng  to  Marblehead,  there  were  seven  carrying  together  45  carriage-guns,  and  about  four  hundred 
men.  The  wh  le  number  of  seamen  belonging  to  this  port  who  served  during  the  war  of  1812  in 
t>u  b1^  and  private  armed  vessels,  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men.  This  information 
•*as  communicated  to  the  Hon.  James  Guthrie.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  by  William  Bartoll, 
^sq  Elector  of  that  Port,  on  the  7th  of  July,  1356. 


NOTES  AND  EXPLANATIONS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THIS  chapter  principally  treats  of  the  preparations 
for  the  war  ;  the  fitting  out  of  small  privateers,  the  em 
bargo,  etc.,  with  a  full  account  of  the  United  States 
frigate  Constitution,  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  his  being  chased 
for  three  days  by  an  English  fleet,  and  finally  making 
his  escape,  and  his  safe  arrival  at  Boston  ;  also,  his 
cruise,  and  capture  of  his  Majesty's  frigate  Guerriere, 
on  the  19th  of  August,  1812.  The  Privateer  brig  Ana 
conda,  named  in  this  chapter,  was  a  beautiful  vessel,  she 
was  built  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  owned  in 
New  York.  She  carried  sixteen  carriage  guns,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men.  She  was  commanded  by  - 
Shaler,  and  made  a  great  many  valuable  prizes,  but  was 
finally  captured  by  a  large  number  of  British  boats, 
while  at  anchor  at  Ocr acock,  N.  C. 


CHAPTER    II. 

The  famous  Commodore  Barney,  after  his  first  suc 
cessful  cruise  in  the  privateer-schooner  Rossie,  of  Balti 
more,  arrived  at  Newport,  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1812.  See  Index. 

(461) 


462  THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Battle  between  the  United  States  frigate  United  States 
and  the  British  frigate  Macedonian.     See  Index. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  privateer-schooner  General  Armstrong,  belonged 
to  New  York,  and  was  a  formidable  vessel.  She  made  a 
great  many  prizes,  was  commanded  by  Captain  Guy  B. 
Champlin,  who  had  a  severe  battle  with  a  British  frigate 
off  Surinam  river,  on  the  llth  of  March,  1813,  and  after 
receiving  much  damage,  made  her  escape.  This  vessel 
was  subsequently  commanded  by  Captain  Samuel  C.  Beid, 
who  made  an  unparalleled  defence  against  the  English, 
in  the  harbor  of  Fayal,  where,  she  was  finally  destroyed 
by  British  men-of-war,  in  a  neutral  port,  on  the  27th 
of  October,  1814. 


CHAPTER    V. 

The  beautiful  privateer-schooner  Governor  Tompkins, 
belonged  to  New  York,  and  was  a  very  formidable  ves 
sel.  On  her  first  cruise,  she  was  commanded  by  Joseph 
Skinner,  of  New  London,  and  made  many  prizes.  She 

subsequently  sailed  under  the  command  of Shaler. 

She  suffered  severely  from  the  shot  of  a  British  frigate, 
but  finally  made  her  escape. 

The  famous  brig  privateer  True-Blooded-Yankee, 
carrying  18  guns,  and  160  men,  was  owned  by  an  Amer 
ican  gentleman  residing  in  Paris,  by  the  name  of  Preble. 
She  was  first  commanded  by  —  -  Hailey.  and  subse- 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  463 

quently  by Oxnard.  She  had  an  American  cc  ni- 

inission,  and  sailed  under  the  American  flag,  but  al\\  ays 
fitted,  and  sailed  out  of  French  ports,  viz.,  Brest,  1'Ori- 
ent,  and  Morlaix. 

This  vessel  was  very  successful.  She  cruised  the 
greatest  part  of  the  war  in  the  British  and  Irish  Chan 
nels,  and  made  a  large  number  of  rich  prizes.  These 
she  generally  sent  into  French  ports  ;  sometimes,  how 
ever,  she  sent  a  few  to  the  United  States. 

The  privateer-schooner  Saratoga,  spoken  of  in  this 
chapter,  belonged  to  New  York.  She  was  a  powerful 

vessel.  On  her  first  cruise  she  was  commanded  by 

Bicker,  who  made  some  prizes.  On  her  second  cruise 
she  was  commanded  by  Charles  W.  Woosler,  \vLo  cap 
tured  the  British  letter-of-marque  brig  Rachel,  after  a 
well-fought  battle. 

Her  third  commander  was  the  celebrated  Guy  K. 
Champlin,  who  made  a  great  many  very  valuable  prizes. 
Though  this  vessel* had  several  battles  with  the  enemy, 
she  ran  all  the  war  without  being  captured. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  well  known  privateer  Decatur,  of  Charleston, 
figures  conspicuously  in  this  chapter. 

The  schooner  David  Porter,  also  here  spoken  of,  un 
der  the  command  of  George  Coggeshall,  was  a  letter-of- 
marque,  and  belonged  to  New  York.  She  made  a  suc 
cessful  cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  was  subsequently 
sold  in  Boston,  from  which  port  she  sailed  as  a  privateer, 

and  made  several  cruises  under  the  command  of 

Fish. 


464"  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

The  well  known  and  gallant  Captain  David  Maffet,  of 
Philadelphia,  spoken  of  in  this  chapter,  first  commanded 
the  privateer-schooner  Atlas,  and  made  many  captures. 
He  subsequently  commanded  the  Rattlesnake,  and  made 
a  great  many  prizes.  He  vanquished  the  enemy  in  se 
veral  hard-fought  battles. 

The  little  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston,  also  mentioned 
in  this  chapter,  figured  conspicuously  throughout 
the  war. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Cruise  and  capture  of  the  Leo.     See  Index. 

CHAPTER    IX.* 

The  privateer  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth,  was  a  c:n 
spicuous  cruising  vessel.     She  was  commanded  by  John 
Sinclair,  and  made  a  great  many  valuable  jarizes.     His 
widow,  a  very  respectable  lady  is  still  living,  and  resides 
in  Brooklyn,  New  Yor\ 

The  celebrated  privateer-brig  Yankee,  also  alluded  !••> 
in  this  chapter,  was  owned  by  James  De  Wolf,  Esq..  of 
Bristol,  R.  I.  In  several  of 'her  first  cruises,  she  wa; 
commanded  by  -  -  Wilson,  and  subsequently  by  - 
Smith.  She  was  a  most  fortunate  vessel,  and  made  a 
great  many  captures.  She  took  the  Royal  Bounty,  a 
British  letter-of-marque-ship,  after  a  severe  engagement. 
She  ran  all  the  war,  and  was  never  captured. 

The  privateer-schooner  'Jack's   Favorite,  belonged  to 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  465 

New  York.  On  several  of  her  first  cruises,  she  was 
commanded  by  -  -  Johnson,  and  made  several  prizes. 
She  was  subsequently  commanded  by  —  -  Miller. 


CHAPTER    X. 

The  privateer-ship  America,  alluded  to  in  this  chap 
ter,  was  a  well-armed  and  well-manned  vessel.  She  was 
very  conspicuous  and  very  fortunate  during  the  whole 
war.  She  belonged  to  Salem,  and  was  commanded  by 
I.  "W.  Chever.  Perhaps  this  vessel  made  more  money 
for  her  owners,  captain,  officers  and  crew,  than  any  other 
privateer,  cruising  out  of  the  United  States. 

The  heroic  Captain  Boyle  commanded  two  privateers 
during  the  war,  viz.,  the  Comet,  and  afterwards  the 
Chasseur.  She  captured  a  great  many  prizes,  and  van 
quished  the  enemy  in  several  hard-fought  battles.  See 
Index. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Captain   Reid's   famous    defence   of  the    privateer- 
schooner  General  Armstrong,  at  Fayal. 

During  the  several  years  of  the  war,  the  number  of 
privateers  and  letters-of-marquc  belonging  to  New  York, 
amounted  to  55.  Of  all  the  captains  who  commanded 
these  vessels,  but  two  are  living  at  the  present  time, 
— Captain  Reid,  and  the  author  of  these  pages. 


466  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

NOTE  TO  PAGE  241. 

Since  the  first  edition  of  this  work  appeared,  I  have 
received  a  more  particular  account  of  the  desperate 
battle  fought  between  Captain  John  Ordronaux,  of  the 
privateer  The  Prince  of  Neuibhatel,  of  New-York, 
with  five  British  barges  belonging  to  the  English  frigate 
Endymion,  off  Nantucket,  on  the  llth  of  October, 
1814  ;  by  which  it  will  be  seen  that  under  all  the  cir 
cumstances,  it  was  the  hardest  fought  naval  engagement 
and  the  most  conspicuous  victory  achieved  during  the 
war. 

It  was  a  contest  waged  against .  a  force  more  than 
three  times  superior  numerically  ;  advancing  in  separate 
divisions  under  the  cover  of  night,  and  assisted  by  the 
presence  of  a  heavy  frigate,  while  at  the  same  time,  and 
as  a  most  serious  obstacle  of  a  successful  defence,  Cap- 
ram  Ordronaux  was  encumbered  with  thirty-seven  British 
prisoners,  who  were  refractory  and  all  ready  for  revc't. 

He  was  therefore  obliged  to  handcuff  his  prisoners, 
and  confine  them  in  the  hold  just  before  the  action. 

He  had  recently  manned  so  many  prizes  that  he  had 
left  only  thirty-three  men,  including  officers  and  marines 
at  quarters,  when  simultaneously  attacked  by  five  Brit 
ish  barges,  manned  with  one  hundred  and  eleven  men, 
beside  the  before-mentioned  thirty-seven  prisoners  con 
fined  below,  who  were  striving  to  get  loose  from  their 
manacles,  and  unite  themselves  to  their  fellow  country 
men. 

Fearing  that  the  British  frigate  would  attack  the 
privateer  with  her  boats,  Captain  Ordronaux  made  the 
following  preparation  for  the  contest,  beside  the  usual 
number  of  muskets,  pistols,  boarding-pikes  and  sabres, 
belonging  to  his  vessel  :  He  had  made  a  large  augmenta- 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  467 

tion  of  fire-arms  taken  from  sundry  British  prizes  during 
the  cruise,  so  that  his  gun-room  was  literally  fijled  with 
these  implements  of  death  and  destruction.  He  accord 
ingly  took  the  precaution  before  night  to  have  some 
two  or  three  hundred  muskets  and  pistols  loaded  and 
placed  in  a  position  to  grasp  at  a  moment's  warning. 

The  loaded  pistols  were  put  into  baskets  and  placed 
behind  the  bulwarks,  so  that  when  the  strife  should 
commence,  it  would  not  be  necessaiy  to  reload  these 
weapons.  He  had  also  his  shot-lockers  all  filled  with 
heavy  shot,  to  throw  into  the  enemy's  boats,  and  stave 
in  their  bottoms,  if  brought  to  close  quarters,  when  he 
could  not  use  his  carriage-guns. 

Being  thus  prepared,  the  brave  Captain  waited  with 
the  most  intense  anxiety  for  the  approach  of  the  enemy  : 
it  was  about  nine  o'clock,  the  night  being  dark,  they 
heard  the  sound  of  oars  at  a  distance,  silently  approach 
ing.  In  the  obscurity  they  could  not  see  the  boats  of 
the  enemy  ;  a  few  shot  were  fired  from  the  Neufchatel 
in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  to  draw  a  shot  from  his 
adversary,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  his  position,  and  how 
he  meant  to  attack,  .but  the  ruse  did  not  succeed. 

Captain  Ordronaux  had  no  intention  of  running  away 
from  the  fight,  nor  did  he  mean  that  the  enemy  should, 
when  once  engaged  in  the  deadly  strife,  it  being  well 
understood  by  all  on  board  that  rather  than  surrender 
to  the  enemy  the  privateer  should  be  blown  up.  Such 
was  the  condition  of  things  at  the  commencement  of 
the  action. 

The  Neufchatel  lying  at  anchor,  was  now  fully  pre 
pared  to  receive  the  enemy,  who  approached  with  five 
barges  in  the  following  order,  namely,  one  on  each  side, 
one  on  each  bow,  and  the  other  under  the  stern.  A 
warm  action  then  took  place  with  muskets,  pistols, 


468  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

• 

sabres  and  boarding-pikes.  The  enemy  were  promptly 
met  and  repulsed,  and  in  about  twenty  minutes  many 
in  the  boats  cried  out  for  quarters,  which  were  granted 
to  those  amidships.  The  men  in  the  two  barges  under 
the  bows  of  the  privateer,  however,  succeeded  in  gain 
ing  the  forecastle,  when  Captain  Ordronaux,  with  two 
or  three  of  his  faithful  followers,  discharged  one  of  his 
main-deck  guns,  loaded  with  canister  shot  and  bags  of 
musket  balls.  This  gun  was  trained  upon  the  forecastle, 
which  had  the  effect  of  killing  and  wounding  great 
numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  of  driving  the  remainder 
overboard.  In  this  discharge  he  unfortunately  wounded 
several  of  his  own  men.  The  five  barges  which  attacked 
the  privateer  contained  at  the  commencement  of  the 
action  one  hundred  and  eleven  men,  including  officers  and 
marines.  One  barge  was  sunk  with  forty-three  men,  of 
whom  two  only  were  saved.  Three  boats  drifted  off 
from  alongside,  apparently  with  no  living  soul  on  board.  ; 
one  was  taken  possession  of.  She  contained^  thirty-six 
men  at  the  beginning  of  the  action,  of  whom  eight  were 
killed  and  twenty  wounded,  and  eight  uninjured. 

The  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  frigate,  (F.  Ormond,  who 
was  not  injured,)  three  midshipmen,  two  of  whom  were 
severely  wounded,  with  one  master's  mate  also  wounded, 
were  permitted  to  come  on  board.  The  remainder  of 
tlu  prisoners  (fifteen  seamen  and  marines)  were  kept 
astern  all  night  in  the  launch — after  taking  out  the 
arms,  oars,  etc.,  the  commander  being  afraid  to  trust 
them  on  board,  having  only  eight  men  fit  for  duty. 

After  the  battle  was  over,  it  was  found  that  six  of 
the  privateer's  crew  were  killed,  and  nineteen  wounded, 
beside  Mr.  Charles  Hilburn,  a  Nantucket  pilot  who  was 
stationed  at  the  helm  during  the  action  ;  it  is  ,-tated  that 
he  was  several  times  wounded,  and  finally  killed  by  the 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  469 

enemy.  The  British  in  this  action  acknowledge  a  loss 
of  thirty-three  killed,  thirty-seven  wounded,  and  thirty 
prisoners. 

During  the  hottest  part  of  the  engagement  the  pris 
oners  in  the  hold  were  loudly  cheering  their  country 
men  to  continue  the  fight,  and  constantly  striving  to 
break  loose,  while  Captain  Ordronaux  and  his  First 
Lieutenant,  Mr.  Millen,  were  obliged  to  watch  their 
prisoners,  and  guard  every  point  to  prevent  a  recapture 
from  the  enemy. 

The  brave  Captain,  though  wounded,  could  not  be 
attended  by  the  surgeon,  for  this  gentleman  was  also 
wounded  in  the  fight,  and  unable  to  assist  those  who 
were  suffering  ;  so  that  through  this  long  and  dreary 
night,  Captain  Ordronaux  and  his  Firs'";  Lieutenant,  Mr. 
Millen,  were  obliged  to  keep  guard  at  each  hatchway, 
with  pistol  in  hand,  to  prevent  the  prisoners  from  break 
ing  loose,  while  his  own  poor  fellows  were  lying  about 
the  deck,  suffering  from  their  wourds,  with  no  one  to 
attend  them,  or  even  to  give  them  a  drink  of  cold 
water. 

Thus  passed  this  awful  night  of  painful  anxiety.  I 
will  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  th^  anxious  feelings  of 
Captain  Ordronaux,  and  his  faithful  followers,  during 
the  long  and  sleepless  night,  surrounded  by  the  dead 
and  wounded,  with  mingled  sounds  of  groans  and  curses 
of  those  who  were  wallowing  about  the  deck,  while  the 
frigate  at  a  distance  was  seen  burning  port  fires,  and 
sending  up  signal  rockets  for  her  barges  to  return. 

He  also  feared  that  at  the  break  of  day  the  frigate 
would  bear  down  upon  them,  and  thus  defeat  all  that 
he  had  gained  in  this  eventful  struggle.  At  last  the 
morning  dawned  upon  these  weary,  battle-stained 
watchers,  who  had  passed  the  dreary  night  without 


470  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

once  leaving  their  posts.  The  colors  of  the  Neufchatel 
were  still  flying,  though  her  decks  were  in  an  awful 
condition.  Some  thirty  or  forty  men  lay  dead  and 
wounded  in  every  condition  of  mutilation,  while  the 
broken  arms  and  implements  of  warfare  scattered  around 
told  how  desperate  had  been  the  struggle  on  that  blood 
stained  deck  ;  and  now  had  arrived  the  most  difficult  part 
of  Captain  Ordronaux's  duty.  As  has  been  stated,  he 
had  but  eight  men  fit  for  duty  after  the  termination 
of  the  action  ;  all  his  prisoners  were  to  be  paroled  and 
landed  under  the  eye  of  a  numerous  enemy.  He  was, 
therefore,  obliged  to  employ  five  or  six  of  his  men  in  a 
large  launch,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep  up  an  appear 
ance  of  strength  to  deceive  his  adversaries.  He  was, 
therefore,  obliged  to  resort  to  stratagem,  to  carry  out 
his  plan. 

Accordingly,  he  had  a  sail  hung  up  abaft  the  main 
hatches,  to  serve  as  a  screen,  wherewith  to  conceal  the 
quarter-deck.  After  this  was  done,  Le  kept  two  boys 
there,  one  beating  the  drum,  the  other  blowing  the  fife, 
and  tramping  heavily  about  the  deck,  to  make  the 
enemy  believe  that  a  large  number  of  men  were  sta 
tioned  there  at  quarters,  to  enforce  his  orders.  Thus 
while  the  attention  of  the  enemy  was  drawn  off  from 
his  enfeebled  state,  sixty-seven  of  the  prisoners  were 
passed  over  the  side  into  the  launch,  and  transported  to 
the  shore,  where  they  were  placed  in  the  possession  of 
the  United  States  Marshal. 

He  also  landed  his  own  wounded  men,  that  they  might 
be  better  attended  to,  and  receive  more  n-edical  assist 
ance  than  could  be  given  them  on  board  of  the  privateer. 
And  thus  after  having  landed  all  his  prisoners,  except 
some  five  or  six,  who  had  been  paroled,  these  being 
young  and  active  he  retained  on  board  to  assist  his 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS.  47l 

crew  in  weighing  the  anchor,  and  navigating  his  vessel 
to  Boston. 

In  this  adroit  management,  Captain  Ordronaux  dis 
played  a  vast  deal  of  cool,  deliberate  judgment,  as  well 
as  uncommon  tact  in  disposing  of  his  numerous  prison 
ers,  and  hiding  his  own  weakness  in  point  of  numbers. 

He  showed  himself  a  great  tactician,  and,  like  General 
Jackson,  knew  how  to  avail  himself  of  every  advantage 
for  enabling  a  small  force  to  compete  successfully  with  a 
large  one. 

A  near  relative  of  Captain  Ordronaux  has  furnished 
the  writer  of  these  pages  with  the  brave  Captain's  jour 
nal,  the  original  parol  given  by  the  English  in  their  own 
handwriting,  and  many  other  valuable  papers  and  docu 
ments,  which  clearly  establish  the  truth  of  this  unparal 
leled  victory. 

I  shall,  therefore,  make  no  apology  for  thus  discharg 
ing  my  duty  to  the  memory  of  a  distinguished  fellow- 
citizen,  by  communicating  these  facts  in  full. 

I  think  it  will  be  conceded  on  all  hands  that  Captain 
Ordronaux  evinced  as  much  bravery  and  tact  in  dispcs- 
•ng  of  his  prisoners  after  the  battle,  as  in  defending  his 
vessel  against  the  enemy  during  the  severe  conflict. 
There  are  many  men  who  can  fight  bravely,  but  few  who 
can  manage  as  well  as  he  did,  to  profit  by  and  secure 
the  fruits  of  a  glorious  victoiy. 

On  his  arrival  at  Boston,  a  large  number  of  patriotic 
merchants  and  other  citizens  proposed  presenting  the 
brave  Captain  with  a  sword  and  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his 
gallantry,  but  the  unaspiring  modesty  of  the  heroic 
Ordronaux  begged,  through  his  friends,  that  it  should 
not  be  done. 

For,  so  far  from  coveting  applause,  his  unassuming, 
retiring  disposition,  led  him  to  shun  publicity  of  every 


472  THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 

kind,  and  often  prevented  him  from  receiving  that  just 
share  of  public  approbation  which  his  merit  so  richly 
deserved  ;  so  that  the  world  knows  but  little  of  the  gal 
lant  deeds  of  this  distinguished  nautical  hero. 

NOTE  TO  PAGE  454. 

Captain  Jasper  Cropsey,  after  commanding  the  priva 
teer  Divided  We  Fall,  took  command  of  the  letter-of- 
marque  schooner  Brothers,  and  sailed  from  New  York 
on  the  3d  of  June,  1813,  for  Bordeaux,  and  was  never 
after  heard  from.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  lost  at 
sea. 

NOTE  TO  PAGE  458. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Sine-qua-non,  of  New 
York,  commanded  by  Captain  Adam  Pond,  a  native  of 
Milford,  Conn,,  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  26tl>of 
April,  1815,  twenty-five  days  from  La  Rochelle,  bring 
ing  the  following  intelligence,  that  Bonaparte  had  landed 
at  Frejus,  from  Elba,  with  six  hundred  followers,  where 
he  was  immediately  joined  by  General  Berthier,  with 
twenty  thousand  men.  With  these  he  marched  to  Paris, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  20th  of  March,  at  the  head  of 
eighty  thousand  soldiers.  He  immediately  resumed  the 
throne.  Louis  XVIII.  and  his  family  fled  in  great  haste 
to  England. 


INDEX. 


Action  between  the  Atlas  and  two  British  Ships, 

Adiona,  British  Brig,  taken  by  the  Constitution,  21 

Admiral  Warren's  Blockade  of  American  Ports,  Eemarks  on,     .        "•  .  •  76 

Allen,  Henry,  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Leo,  Extract  of  Letter  from,  291 

Amelia,  Privateer,  Cruise  and  Success  of,              .            .            .            .  318 

A  Memorial  from  the  Merchants  of  New  York  to  the  Congress  of  the  United 

States,        ....         '..:-.;  .     ;...! .  [  .-..:..    89-95 

Anecdote  Illustrating  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,      .    ;.  ,.  .         .            .  304 

Anne,  British  Schooner,  brought  into  Thomastown,  by  American  Privateers,  297 

Ann  Dorothea,  British  Ship,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Saratoga,     .            .  307 

Anxiety  of  the  People  of  the  United  States  for  the  Fate  of  the  Constitution,  24 

Argus  captures  British  Ship  London  Packet,         .            .            .            .  149 

Arrow,  Privateer,  Loss  of,         ......  321 

Atlantic  Ports,  Prizes  daily  arriving  at                  .            .            .            .'  38 

Battle  between  the  United  States  Frigate  United  States  and  the  British  Frigate 

Macedonian,  ...  j  >  ;A-.:,  •  -:^». '\'\  ..••'.  •  72-75 
Battle  between  the  Privateer  Nonsuch  and  an  English  Ship,  off  Martinique,  87-88 
Battle  between  the  Surprise  and  Star,  .  >..»»*•  ,.-,  •  326 

Battle  with  and  defeat  of  the  Guerriere,  .  .  .  v;_          26-'iO 

Battle  between  the  United  States  Frigate  President  and  a  British  Fleet,  340 

Baltimore,  Patriotism  of  City  of     .         -^-.••i   ^1.-,.;     ,. .;:.-:-     •>.  .j       /;{*»"        330 
Barney,  Commodore,  returns  to  Baltimore,      ....  84 

Bay  of  Biscay,  Terrible  Gale  in  ...        ;1.  j  &        »,  •  •        182 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Privateer,  takes  Schooner  Industry,         .  .  60 

Biddle,  of  the  Hornet,  engages  and  defeats  the  Penguin,  .        •.   ..  ,        332 

Blockade,  Privateer,  sails  from  Newport  in  company  with  Privateer  Yankee,      144 
Boyd,  English  Ship,  taken  by  the  Globe,    .  .  .  .         feggj         56 

Boyle,  Captain  of  Privateer  Chasseur,  cruises  on  Coast  of  Brazil,  &c.,  &c.,       132 
Intercepts  three  British  vessels  under  Portuguese  protection.     Gallant 

encounter,  and  complete  victory,        .  .  .         .   .  132 

in  the  Chasseur,  vubl  ui    !  '•-  ..;v,-,'        ,  •         .  139 

Cruise  in  Schooner  Comet,         .  .  .  »,,,-. .         .  .       166 

Heroic  and  gallant  conduct  and  achievements  of,  .  .  358 

List  of  Prizes  taken  by,  .  .  .        .    .  i  ,  358 

Letter  of,  to  one  of  the  Owners,      .  *.'.:.  362 

Battle  with  and  Capture  of  the  St.  Lawrence,          51  .'          .  363 

(473) 


474  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Boyle,  Captain,  of  the  Chasseur,  Burlesque  Blockade  of  all  English  ports  by      361 
Certificate  to,  from  Captain  of  the  Ft.  Lawrence,        .  .  36G 

Arrival  of,  at  Baltimore,        ......  366 

Author's  opinion  of  .....         368,  369 

Brave  Defence  of  the  Schooner  Lottery,     .....  128 

British  Ship  Industry  sent  into  Bergen,  Norway,  by  the  True-blooded  Yankee,  149 
British  Officers  at  Gibraltar  refuse  to  parole  Capt.  Cog-geshall  and  Officers,        265 
British  Ship  of  22  guns  driven  on  shore  near  Demarara  by  the  General  Arm 
strong,        ........  IH 

British  Ship  London  Packet  captured  by  the  Argus,  and  sent  into  Boston,         149 
British  Fleet  chases  Constitution,  .  .  .  .  .  7 

British  Ship  captured  and  sent  into  Norfolk,    ....  37 

British  transport  Brig  captured,      ......  38 

British  Ship  Nereid,  captured  off  Madeira  by  the  Governor  Toiupkins,  164 

British  Ship  Morgiana,  captured  by  Boarding  by  the  Saratoga,    .  .  150 

British  Policy  of  taking- New  Orleans,  ....  144 

British  Government  petitioned  by  Liverpool  Merchants,  with  respect  to  Am 
erican  Privateers,  ......  303 

Brig  Ann,  a  Prize  to  the  Snap-Dragon,          ...  107 

Brutus,  Letter-of-Marque,  captures  brig  Tagus,  from  Smyrna,  and  ship  Albion, 

from  London,  .....  386 

Capture  of  a  British  Transport  Brig,  sent  into  Gloucester,  .  .  38 
Capture  of  the  Packet  Ship  Elizabeth  after  a  short  Battle,  by  the  Letter-of- 
Marque,  Jacob  Jones,  of  Boston,  ....  356 
Caroline,  Privateer  Schooner,  captures  Brig  Stephen,  .  .  317 
Caledonia,  British  Ship,  taken  by  Surprise,  ....  294 
Chase  and  escape  of  Constitution,  .....  8-19 
Champliu,  Captain  of  Privateer  General  Armstrong,  compliment  to,  .  107 
Champlin,  Captain,  of  the  Warrior  Privateer,  chased  by  British  Frigate,  328 
Chasseur,  Privateer,  captures  British  Ship  Mary  and  Susan,  and  Ship  Adven 
ture,  .  .  ...  350 
Coggeshall,  George,  Commander  of  Letter-of-Marque,  Schooner  David  Porter, 

sail*  to  Charleston  from  Newport,  having  loaded  at  Providence,  178 

Chafed  off  Charl^ton, 178 

Arrives  at  that  P.  rt,             .            .            .            .            .            .  179 

Sails  from  Nowp-  rt,        ......  178 

Sails  from  Charleston  %r  France,    .....  180 

Arrives  at  La  Teste,        ......  183 

Hurries  away  from  La  Teste,           .            .            .            .            .  186 

Short  cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,           .                         •            .  190 

Makes  several  Captures,       .            .            .            .            .            .  191 

Arrives  at  L'lle  Dieu,     ......  193 

Letter  of,  to  Captain  Mantor,  formerly  of  Brig  Ida,           .            .  201 

Letter  of,  to  owners,        .            .            .            .            .            .  210 

To  A.  Gracie  &  Sone,          .            .            .            .            .            .  212 

To  his  Brother,    .            .             .            .            .            .            .  217 

Prepares  and  fits  out  the  Leo  at  L'Orieut,  ....  254 

Proceeds  to  the  English  Channel,            .                                   '  ,  255 


INDEX.  475 

PASB 

Disarmed  by  order  of  the  French  Government,       .            .            .  255 

Sails  from  L'Orierit,  captures  several  Prizes,    .            .            .  255 
Compelled  to  leave  the  Channel  and  eteer  to  the  southward,  on  account 

of  being  badly  armed,  and  very  deficient  in  sails  and  rigging,  256 

Dismasted  while  in  chaee  of  a  British  Packet,       .            .            .  261 

Arri v  es  off  Lisbon,           ......  262 

Taken  by  the  Granicus,  Frigate,  and  towed  round  to  Gibraltar,     .  262 

Conversation  and  intercourse  with  Captain  of  Granicus,            .  263-7 

Examination  at  the  Admiralty  office  at  Gibraltar,               .            .  267 

Escape  from  the  Garrison,           .....  269 

Goes  on  board  a  Norwegian  Galliot,             .            .                         .  270 

Takes  passage  to  Algeciras  with  a  Gang  of  Smugglers,             .  272 

Resides  with  the  Family  of  the  Captain  of  the  Gang,          .            .  274 

Leaves  Algeciras,  in  Disguise,  for  Cadiz,            .            .            .  279 

Remarks  on  that  Region  of  Country,           ....  279 

Arrives  at  Cadiz,             ......  284 

Kind  Reception  at  that  Place  by  his  old  Friends  and  Countrymen,  284 

Residence  at  Cadiz— Theatres  and  Bull  Fights,             .            .  285 

Sails  from  Cadiz  for  Lisbon,  in  a  Portuguese  Vessel,          .            .  288 

Unpleasant  Passage  home  to  New  York,            .            .            .  290 

Constitution, .American  Ship,  Captain  Hull,  off  New  York,          .           .  7 

Constitution  chased  by  a  British  Fleet,             ....  7 

Constitution,  Ship,  Anxiety  for  the  Fate  of,            ....  24 

Constitution  meets  the  Decatur,            .....  23 

C  onstitution  destroys  an  English  Brig,        .            .                         .            .  21 

Meets  the  Guerriere  and  gains  a  Complete  Victory,      .            .  28-31 
Civilization  and  humanity  of  English  and  Americans  compared,  in  their  re 
spective  treatment  of  prisoners,          ....          341-343 

Comet,  Privateer,  captures  British  Ship  John,       ....  78 

Comet,  Privateer,  captures  and  destroys  Nine  Vessels,            .           V  '  166 
Combat  between  the  Letter-of-Marque  Schooner  Falcon  and  the  British  Cutter 

Hero,               .......  37 

Commence  with  Small  Privateers,              ....  2 

Comparative  Naval  forces  in  the  War,              ....  394 

Countess  of  Harcourt,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Sabine,        .            .  246 
Coup  de  Main  of  four  American  Seamen,  on  board  British  Schooner  Anne,        297 

Cocp  de  Main  of  a  Fishing  Smack,             .  _          .             .             .             .  122 

Cruise  of  the  Privateer  Schooner  Fame  of  Salem,   !  .#•         .            .  38 

Cruise  of  the  Privateer  Perry,  of  Baltimore,        ....  236 

Cruises  of  the  Scourge  and  Rattlesnake,           ....  219 

Cruelty  of  the  English  in  the  War  on  Land,          ....  396 

David  Porter,  Lettor-of-Marque,  Commander  Coggeshall's  Voyage  to  France 

in                   -.-......  177 

Loses  First  Prize,     .            .            .            .            .            .  :       ".  181 

Chased  by  a  Frigate,       .            .            .            .            .  ^  189 

Makes  Several  Captures,      .            .            .                        .            .  190-9J 

Arrives  at  Boston  with  rich  Spoils,        .            »            .            .  308 

Captures  the  Brig  Hiram.     .            .  •                     .            .            .  308 


47  C  INDEX. 

PAQB 

David  Porter  captures  Schooner  George,        ....  327 

Dae  res.  Captain  of  H.  B.  M.  Frigate  Guerriere,  Challenge  of,      .  .  20 

Account  of  .......  31 

Decatur,  Privateer  Schooner,  Desperate  Engagement  of,  with  Schooner  Do 
minica,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .173-  176 

Sails  on  Fresh  Cruise,          .  .        rlU ..",..        .  177 

Definition  of  War,         .  .  394 

Desperate  Battle  fought  between  the  American  Privateer-Schooner  Decatur, 
of  Charleston,  Captain  Diron,  and  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Schooner 
Dominica,  on  the  5th  August,  1813,         ....     173-176 

Desperate  Battle  between  the  Privateer  General  Armstrong,  Captain  Cham- 
pi  in,  and  a  British  Frigate,  .....     105-K.7 

Desperate  Engagement  between  the  Privateer  Globe,  Captain  Richard  Moon, 

and  two  English  Brigs,  off  Madeira,       ....  1(50 

Desperate  Battle  between  the  Neufchatel,  Privateer,  and  the  Boats  of  a  British 

Man-of-War,  off  Nantucket,        .....     241-244 

Disparity  of  Naval  Forces  of  England  and  the  United  States,  .  36 

Dominica,  British  Schooner,  Engages  the  Decatur,  .  .  >•:'         I7H 

Dolphin,  Privateer,  Gallant  Action  of,  with  English  Ship  and  Brig-,  128 

Sends  British  Ship  John  Hamilton  into  Baltimore,        ,-,-•.'         .  96 

Drontlieim,  in  Norway,  ......  223 

Eliza  Grade  and  Oronoko  captured,           .        ~  ,„•>         .            .           :,:  9 

Embargo  by  the  United  States  Government,      .                       .         •,*.. -  .•  5 

English  Press  on  the  War,             .            .            .            .            .            .  41 

Explosion  of  a  Privateer,         ......  125 

Extract  from  the  Log-book  of  the  Atlas,  Captain  Maffet,  and  his  Account  of 

an  Action  with  two  British  Ships,  which  he  Captures,  .  79 

Extract  from  a  Baltimore  Paper,  .  .  »  .  41 

Extract  from  Log-book  of  Schooner  Highflyer,  .  .  .  .  r  ..i-x  53 

Extract  from  the  Log-book  of  the  Shadow,  .  .  _,.$.',  ...  62 

Extract  from  Log-book  of  Privateer  Schooner,  Comet,  .  .  .  .132 
Extract  from  a  Charleston  paper  with  respect  to  the  loss  of  the  Privateer 

Ino,           .            .            .            .            .            .          ;,....  348 

Extract  from  Log-book  of  Privateer  Schooner  Rossie,            .            .  84 

Extract  from  Salem  paper,             ......  53 

Extract  from  Log-book  of  Globe,  Privateer,   ....  35 

Extract  from  a  London  Newspaper,           .            .            .            .            .  41 

Eulogy  on  Captain  John  Murphy,  .  .  .  .  ;/ i  >  ;  157 

Falcon,  Letter-of-Marque  Schooner,  and  British  Cutter  Hero,  Combat  be 
tween  .......  37 

Fifteen  British  Vessels  captured  off  Jamaica,  by  the  Lovely  Cordelia,  of 

Charleston,  .  .  .  .  .  ^         151 

First  British  Ship  captured  and  sent  into  Norfolk,       ...  37 

Fleet  Sailing,         .  .  .  .  .        .^.f  *        „*•*        109 

Flying  Fish,  British  Schooner,  taken  by  the  Saucy  Jack,       .        •..  -«    -  14G 

Four  Privateers  leave  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware  on  the  20th  of  July,   .  38 

Frigates,  List  of,  fit  for  Sen.      .  36 


INDEX.  477 

PAGB 

General  Wellesley,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Yankee,  but  lost  while  enter-. 

ing  Charleston,      .                         ...       '-•«'•   "V  319 

General  Armstrong,  Privateer,  chases  British  Ship  on  shore  near  Demerara,    98 

Captures  British  Ship  Queen,           .....  99 

Fights  with  British  Frigate,      .        ••^i         .            .            .  105-107 

Cruise  and  capture  of          .            .                         .            .            .  370 

General  rules  in  Privateering,              .            ..           .            .            .  111-12 

Glendower,  British  Frigate,  captures  the  Hyder  Ali,        .            .            .  357 

Globe,  Privateer,  engages  an  Algerine  Sloop  of  War,            .            .  103 

Globe,  Privateer,  engagement  01.  with  two  English  Brigs,           .            .  160 
Good  effects  of  the  War  on  Commerce  and  General  Relations  with  other 

Nations,     ........  398 

Gottenburg-,  Pilot  boat  dispatched  to                ....  2 

Governor  Tompkins  captures  British  Ship  Nereid,           .            .            .  164 

Governor  Tompkins  escapes  from  a  British  Frigate,                .             .  140-3 

Grampus,  Privateer,  arrives  at  New  York,             ....  157 

Grampus,  Narrow  Escape  of,  at  Canary  Islands,          .            .            .  157 

Grand  Turk,  Privateer,  arrives  at  Salem  with  Spoils  and  Prisoners,  308 

Granicus,  British  Frigate,  captures  the  Leo,         ....  262 

Guerriere,  Destruction  of                     .            .            .                         .  '31 

Harpy,  Privateer,  Successful  Cruise  of     .             .            .             .            .  305 

Valuable  Prizes  of        ......  321 ,  322 

Hibemia,  British  Ship,  Engaged  by  the  Comet     .                         .  166 

Highflyer,  Engages  and  captures  Ship  Mary  and  H   ne,  and  other  prizes,  54 

Hopes  of  Peace  disappointed,          .                                                 ,            .  1 
Hornet,  U.  S.  Ship,  Engages  Sloop  Penguiii.  and  pains  a  complete  victory,       332 

How  Privateers  manage  to  take  Merchant  Vt-.-.^els  out  of  a  Fleet,           .  111-112 

Hubbub  and  Confusion  in  Gibraltar,  to  find  the  Captain  of  the  Leo,  271 

Hull,  Captain,  off  New  York  in  Constitution,    "."'.".         .             .  7 

Sails  from  Boston,        ....          '  .            .  2] 

Cruises  off  Nova  Scotia,       ......  21 

Meets  with  the  Guerriere,  on  the  19th  of  August,         .            .  27 

Battle  with  and  defeat  of  the  Guerriere,                  ...  28 

Honors  to,  after  his  victory,       .             .            .        '» -V       ••'•'•';•  •'  34 

Ida,  Brig,  Escapes  from  La  Rochelle,        .            .'          .            .            .  200 

Indian  Lass,  captured  by  Grand  Turk,  and  sent  into  Salem,         •'  J . :  •  235 

Ino,  lost  off  Charleston  Bar,          .            .            «            '.    :        .             .  348 

Ino,  captures  Ship  Hero,           ......  3]  8 

Ino,  Privateer,  captures  the  Lady  Trowbridge,     .           •..       'L^'.-.i    ••    .  348 
Interesting  Cruise  of  the  famous  Capt.  Boyle,  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  and 

among  the  West  India  Islands,    .         '  :..,-      '--i  '•      *>U».         ,  132 

Interesting  Cruise  of  the  famous  Capt.  Boyle,  in  the  Schooner  Comet,  166 

Jacob  Jones,  Letter-of-Marque,  captures  Packet  Ship  Elizabeth,  356 

Jacob  Jones,  captures  British  Brig  Bourwan,  from  Penang,       •  i   '•   •    v  391 

Jack's  Favorite,  chased  by  British  Schooner  Subtle         .          -'.        -..  .*  67 

James,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Privateer  Portsmouth,            -  '.  298 

28 


478  INDEX. 


MM 

Journal  of  Capt.  Hull's  Cruise,     .  ....        21-23 

John  Murphy,  Captain,  Eulogy  on  .  .  .  .  157 

John.  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Comet,          ....  78 

Kemp,  Privateer,  captures  several  British  Merchantmen.       .  .          313-315 

Captures  the  New  Frederick,         .....  247 

Kind  Reception  of  Capt.  Hull,  in  Boston.         ....  19 

Lady  Trowbridge,  British  Brig,  captured  by  the  Ino,  of  Boston,              .  348 

La  Rochelle,  Visit  of  Geo.  Coggeshall  to          ....  197 

Lawrence,  Privateer,  Successful  Cruise  of           ....  320 

Leo,  Letter-of-Marque,  Cruise  of  George  Coggeshall  in  the         .            r  253 

Captures  a  valuable  East  IiKlia  Ship,          ....  147 

Prepared  and  fitted  out  at  L'Orient,     ....  254 

"Captured  oft'  Lisbon,  by  the  Granicus,        ....  202 

Leonidas,  British  Brig,  captured  by  the  Mars,               .            .  48 

Lisbon.  Ships  America,  Eliza  Gracie,  and  Orouoco,  pail  from      .            .  8 

Geo.  Coggeshall.  arrives  off        .             ....  261 

Pilot  taken  on  board  the  Leo,         .....  202 

L'Isle  Dieu,  Remarks  on  .  .  .  .  .          194-195 

List  of  the  Privateer  Yankee's  Prizes,     .              ....  114 

Loss  of  the  Prizes  of  the  Privateers  Sconce  and  Rattlesnake             .  221 
List  of  Frigates  fit  for  Sea,              ....                         .36 

Liverpool,  Merchants  of,  petition  British  Government  for  protection  from  Am 
erican  Privateers,        ......  393 

London  Newspaper,  Extract  from             .            .             .            .            .  41 

London  Packet,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Argus,             .            .  149 

Lose.  Naval,  of  the  English  during  the  War,         ....  394 

Loss,  Naval,  of  the  Americans  during  the  War,           .            .            .  395 

Loss  of  His  Majesty's  Schooner  Subtle,                .            .            .            .  67 

Lottery,  Schooner,  Brave  defence  of    .            .            .            .            .  123 

Lovely  Cordelia  captures  fifteen  British  vessels  off  Jamaica,        .            .  151 

McDonough,  Privateer,  Extracts  from  Log-book  of    .  .  .          351-390 

Macedonian,  Privateer,  Short  but  successful  cruise  of  .  ,  312 

Macedonian,  British  Frigate,  fights  with  Frigate  United  States,  of  U.  S-.        72-75 
Margaret,  British  Ship,  Capture  oC  by  Privateer  Teaser,  .  . ...,          40 

Maffet,  Captain,  captures  two  British  Ships,  .  .  ,  79 

Magnanimity,  Instance  of     .  .  .  .  .  ,,  •        .;  =  .          60 

Magnanimity  of  an  American  Captain,  ...    %       ..          ,r.     .      ..  329 

Mammoth.  Privateer,  makes  several  captures,       .  .        ;    •  .         •     305-306 

Mantor,  Captain,  of  the  Brig  Ida,  Letter  of,  to  Capt.  Coggeshall,  202 

Wonderful  Escape  of,  from  a  British  Fleet,  .  .  .     303,  304 

Merchants  of  New  York  memorialize  Congress  with  resprct  to  Privateering,  89-95 
Merchants  of  Liverpool  petition  British  Government  for  protection  from  Ameri 
can  Privateers,  .  f  •     -,   .  .          r  .         .  •:        .    «  303 
Montgomery,  Privateer  Brig,  engages  the  Surinam.        .  .            .          -  ,  69 
Mo  >n,  Captain,  engages  with  two  English  vessels.      .          ,-.*-•-       -.-.              160 


INDEX.  479 


Nicoli,   uaptaiu,  of  the  Scourge,  Character  and  conduct  of      •'..-.•        .  220 

Negro  Seamen  an  object  of  interest  in  France,            .            .            .  195 

Negro  Seamen,  Conduct  of,  in  the  War,    .....  143 

Neufchatel  Privateer,  engages  boats  of  British  Man-of-War,             .  241-244 
New  York  City,  Common  Council  of,  presents  Freedom  of  the  City  to  Captain 

Hull,         ...  81 

New  York,  Several  Privateers  sail  from           ....  3 

266  Merchant  vessels  arrive  at,  between  April  and  August,  1812,  81 

Merchants  of,  memorialize  Congress  wTith  respect  to  Privateering,  89-95 

New  Orleans,  British  Policy  in  taking        .....  144 

Nicholu. « .  iptain  of  Privateer  Harpy,  Letter  of  acknowledgment  to,  from  pris 
oners,         ........  322-323 

Nonsuch,  engages  a  Ship  and  Schooner,            ....  87 

Notes  and  Explanations,      .             .           • .            .            .            .            .  423 

Number  of  Privateers  and  Letters-of-Marque  at  Sea,  16th  July,  1812,  38 

Official  Account  of  the  Action  between  U.  S.  Ship  Hornet  and  British  Sloop  of 

War  Penguin,  .......  332-335 

On  the  18th  of  June,  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York  present 

Captain  Isaac  Hull  with  the  Freedom  of  their  City  in  a  Gold  Box,  81 

Pars,  visit  to,  in  1813,              .            .            .            .            .             .  210,  213 

Patriotism  of  the  City  of  Baltimore,         .            .            .            .             .  130 

Perrj,  Privateer,  successful  Cruise  of             ....  324 

Pelham,  British  Ship,  captured  by  Saucy  Jack,     ....  233 

Penguin,  British  Sloop,  engaged  and  conquered  by  the  Hornet,       .  332 

Destroyed  by  Scuttling,      ......  235 

Perry,  Privateer  of  Baltimore,  Cruise  of                     .            .            .  236 

Pilot  Boat  dispatched  to  Gottenburg,        .....  2 

Political  Divinity,         .......  304 

Polly,  Privateer,  Escape  of           .'....  39 

Preparation  for  War,    .......  2 

President,  Frigate,  Cruises  off  the  North  Cape,    .                         .            .  221 

Princess  Elizabeth,  British  Packet,  captured  by  the  Harpy,              .  245 

Privateering,  success  and  Progress  of                    .             .             .             .  298 

Privateers,  Table  of,  belonging  to  New-York,              ...  4 

Privateers,  Table  of,  belonging  to  Baltimore,       ....  5 

Privateers,  Table  of,  belonging  to  Salem,          ....  153 

Privateers  fit  out  from  the  Eastern  States,           .            ...  3 

Privateers  in  East  Indies,        ......  316 

Privateers  from  Rhode  Island  and  South  Carolina,           ...  6 

Privateers,  Remarks  on,  Nov.  1814,     .            .            .            .  301  2 

Privateers  leave  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware,        .             .            .  38 

Prizes  in  Month  of  July,  1812,             .             .             .            V       i     .'-•  38 

Prizes  taken  during  the  month  of  August,  1812,              .           V-         .  44 

P-;"es  arriving  almost  daily  in  the  Atlantic  Ports.    •  .            * •            .  38 

Prv.es  captured  by  Pri.vateeiv.     .     f>7,  60,  63,  68,  77,  81.89,  95,  114,  126,  146 

154,  I,-,  •>.>:>,  „'!;,  ^4,  304,  312.  315,  316.  323.  346 

F'iK'c  Opinion  in  1812,            ..   -    *   .                        .            .           v  23-24 


^80  INDEX. 


Qmbs<%  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Saratoga,         .  .         -.'''•>'.  58 

Rambler,  Letter-of-Marque,  captures  the  Transport  Ship  Mosely,      .  390 

Rambler,  Letter-of-Marque,  captures  British  Ship  Arabella,        .  .  354 

Rattlesnake  captures  British  Ship  Mary,          .  .    '     .    &&.        .  208 

Reception  of  Hull  after  defeat  of  Guerriere,        ....  34 

Reid,  Captain,  Cruise  of,  in  the  General  Armstrong,    .  .  .  370 

Arrives  at  Fayal,     ....  .  370 

Gallant  defence  of  the  General  Armstrong  in  Fayal  Roads,  and  great 
loss  of  the  Enemy,          ......        273-5 

Destruction  of  the  Brig,  .....  377 

Letter  of  American  Consul  concerning  Captain  Reid,  and  the  defence 

and  loss  of  the  General  Armstrong,  .  .  .  378 

Arrives  at  Savannah—  Honors  paid  to  ...     383-384 

Remarks  on  engagement  between  United  States  and  Macedonian,     .  75 

Remarks  on  the  Battle  between  the  Decatur  and  Dominica,        .  .  176 

Remarks  on  the  Battle  between  the  Hornet  and  British  Sloop-of-war  Penguin,  336 
Remarks  on  the  action  between  the  General  Armstrong  and  a  British  Frigate,  1  07-9 
Remarks  on  Admiral  "Warren's  blockading  the  American  Ports,  .  76 

Remarks  on  Battle  of  Constitution  and  Guerriere,  .  .  .         31-34 

Rhode  Island  and  South  Carolina,  Privateers  from      .  .  .  466 

Rossie,  Commodore  Barney,  takes  and  mans,  or  destroys,  several  Prizes,  84-87 
Rossie,  Commodore  Barney,  engages  Ship  Princess  Amelia,  .  .  86 

Rogers,  Commodore,  Cruises  in  the  President  off  the  North  Cape,          .  221 

Ro^er,  Privateer,  captures  British  Packet,  Windsor  Castle,  .  387 

Saratoga  captures  British  Ship  Quebec,    .....  56 

Boards  and  captures  the  Morgiana.        ....  150 

Captures  British  Ship  Ann  Dorothy,  ....  307 

Engages  and  defeats  British  Letter-of  Marque  Rachel,    .  .  70 

Saucy  Jack  makes  several  prizes,  .  .  .  .  .  127 

Takes  Flying  Fish,  ......  146 

Takes  Ship  Amelia  and  Schooner  Weasel,  .  .  .  310 

Bold  but  unsuccessful  engagement  with  two  vessels  of  war,    .  310 

English  account  of  the  Engagement,        .  .  .  .  .  311 

S-  Clnii..  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Globe,  ...  50 

Scourgw  /.ad  Rattlesnake,  Cruises  and  Prizes  of  ...    219-225 

Several  Privateers  sail   from  New  York,          ....  3 

Shadow,  Privateer,  Battle  with  British  Ship  Nancy,        .  .  .        62,  63 

Shaler,  Captain,  Escape  of.  from  a  British  Frigate,      .  .  .          140-14:5 

Siege  and  Storming  of  Badajoz,  by  a  British  Army,  contrasted  with  General 

Scott's  Campaign  and  Subjugation  of  Mexico,  .  .         343-348 

Sir  John  Sherbrook,  British  Brig,  captured  by  the  Syren  and  driven  on  shore,  304 
Sixty-five  Privateers  and  Letters-of-Marque  at  Sea  on  the  16th  of  July,  1812,     38 
Small  Privateers,  Commence  the  War  with  .  .          .  .    -   Lv*it«  2 

Snap  -"Dragon  captures  British  Brig  Anne.         .  .  .        A.»-,~  127 

*v\  Horatio,  American  Consul,  protects  and  aids  Geo.  Coggeshall,  276 

f.i.  Captain,  captures  two  English  vessels,  .  .        ..•-..;.•-  128 

Gallantly  defends  the  Privateer  Dolphin.  .        .•*  •••»*     <•>/        154 


INDEX.  481 

PAGB 

Stafford,  Captain  of  Privateer  Dolphin,  Character  of  .            .                  130 

State  of  Affairs  in  France,  Unsettled                        .            .  .                183-185 

Surprise,  Privateer,  Succssful  cruise  of    .                         .  .                         294 

List  of  Prizes  made  by              .-                        .  .            .                  294 

Captures  East  India  Ship  Star,        .....  326 

Symmetry,  British  Ship,  captured  hy  the  Scourge,     .  .         '•  -.    •              223 

Syreri,  Privateer,  Loss  of              ....  -;- .     ,  ..  ,,         307 

Table  of  Privateers  belonging  to  Baltimore,  ....  52 

Table  of  Privateers  belonging  to  New  York,  ...  4 

Table  of  Privateers  belonging  to  Salem,     .....  153 

Terrible  Gale  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,      .....  182 

The  Privateer  Sabine,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British  Ship  Countess  of 

Harcourt,        .  24G 

The  Privateer  Harpy,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British   Packet  Princess 

Elizabeth,        .......  245 

The  Grand  Turk  captures  the  Indian  Lass,  and  sends  her  to  Salem,        .  235 

The  Privateers  Yankee  and  Blockade  sail  from  Newport  on  the  1st  of  June, 

1813,          ........  144 

The  Privateer  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British  Brig  Elizabeth,  and 

sends  her  to  Charleston,  .....  245 

The  Privateer  Portsmouth  captures  the  Ship  James,  of  London,         .  298 

The  Saucy  Jack  captures  the  Ship  Pelham,  and  takes  her  into   Charles 
ton,    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  233 

Treaty  of  Peace,     ......  .    401-414 

True-blooded  Yankee,  Privateer,  captures  British  Ship  Industry ;  sent  to  Nor 
way,          ........  149 

Sails  from  Brest,  on  the  24th  of  November,  1814,  on  a  cruise  in  the 
British  Channel,  .  .  .  .  .  .  303 

Thirty-seven  days  at  sea,  Interesting  and  successful  cruise  of    .  168-169 

Unfortunate  attempt  of  the  Second-Lieutenant  of  the  Leo  to  escape  from 

Gibraltar,  .......  292 

United  States  Government,  Embargo  by  .  5 

United  States,  Frigate,  and  British  Frigate  Macedonian,  Battle  between        72-75 

Visit  of  Geo.  Coggeshall  to  Bordeaux  and  Paris,  '   .  .  208-210 

Voyage  to  France  in  Letter-of-Marque  Schooner  David  Porter,  Geo.  Cogges 
hall,  Commander ;  loads  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,        .  177 

War,  Preparation  for                     .            .            .            .  ^     .  .  2 

Warrior,  Privateer  Brig,  escapes  from  a  British  Frigate  and  a  Man-of-War,      385 

Warrior,  Privateer,  Amusing  chase  of,  by  British  Frigate,          »-  .  328 

Wasp,  Privateer,  captured  by  the  Bream,      .            .         .  .    «  .  126* 

Wasp,  Successful  cruise  of           .            .           .            .            .  .  214-215 

Captures  Sloops-of- War  Reindeer  and  Avon,    .  .  .  214 

Whiting,  British  Schooner,  Capture  of      .           .            .  „ . .  .  37 


482  INDEX. 


Yankee,  Privateer,  and  British  Letter-of-Marque,  Desperate  encounter  be 
tween  .    t 

Returns  to  Rhode  Island,  ..... 

Captures  East  India  Ship  Gen.  Wellesley, 
York,  Privateer,  returns  to  Baltimore, 

Young  Teazer,  Privateer,  maliciously  destroyed,  with  lose  of  life, 
Young  Wasp,  Privateer,  Interesting  Cruise  of  ... 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

?02  Main  Libra' 


LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

4 


ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling     642-3405. 

"DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DD6,  BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


- 


YB  37415 


. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


